The demand for renewable and sustainable energy sources has made energy
harvesting a crucial field of study. This study examines cutting-edge energy harvesting
technologies with an emphasis on the application of polymer nanocomposites.
Combining polymers with nanoscale components to create polymer nanocomposites
offers special benefits such as improved thermal stability, electrical conductivity, and
mechanical qualities. Because of these qualities, they are good candidates
fordeveloping energy harvesting devices that effectively transform ambient energy
sources—such as mechanical, thermal, and solar energy—into electrical energy that
can be used. The review examines many processes for creating polymer
nanocomposites and how they are used in energy harvesting devices. The usefulness of
methods like electrospinning, solution casting, and melt blending in improving the
efficiency of energy harvesting devices is highlighted. The electrical characteristics of
polymer matrices are greatly enhanced by the use of nanoparticles, such as metal
oxides, graphene, and carbon nanotubes, which raises energy conversion efficiency.
The study also looks at certain energy harvesting uses for polymer nanocomposites,
such as solar cells, thermoelectric devices, and piezoelectric generators. These
materials are positioned as competitive substitutes for conventional energy harvesting
technologies due to their ability to provide flexible, lightweight, and long-lasting
energy harvesting devices. It is observed from the review study that by demonstrating
the revolutionary potential of polymer nanocomposites in energy harvesting
applications, the ongoing developments in materials science and nanotechnology open
the door to the creation of novel solutions that can make a substantial contribution to
the worldwide effort to achieve sustainable energy, tackling the problems brought on
by environmental concerns and energy demand. Future research should concentrate on
improving these technologies' scalability and performance to allow for broad adoption
across a range of industries.
Keywords: Energy harvesting devices, Nanocomposites, Polymer, Sustainable energy.
