Inorganic ferroelectric thin films and their composites for flexible electronic and energy device applications: current progress and perspectives

Scientific research is involved in the inception of flexible energy devices, and ferroelectric (FE) materials are making their mark on the process. In particular, devices based on inorganic FE (IFE) materials are finding a remarkable role in flexible energy devices, such as energy harvesters, infrared (IR) sensors, and energy storage capacitors because the latest technologies are particularly concentrating on self-powered flexible sensors and energy harvesters for a sustainable world. Moreover, the combination of IFEs with organic/inorganic polymers in flexible devices seems to satisfy the requirements of high mechanical strength, piezoelectric coefficient, pyroelectric coefficient, and energy storage properties essential for harvesting, sensing, and storage applications, respectively. In this review article, a systematic analysis of flexible IFE-based energy materials is presented. Starting with a brief introduction about energy generation in dielectric materials, the importance of IFEs, and the current state-of-the-art of IFE-based flexible materials in harvesting energy, IR sensing, and storing energy capacity are discussed. Further, the existing challenges and future perspectives in facilitating high-quality flexible IFE devices for real-world applications are envisaged.

Automated summary

Scientific research has shown that ferroelectric materials, particularly inorganic ferroelectric materials, play a crucial role in flexible energy devices. These devices, including energy harvesters, infrared sensors, and energy storage capacitors, focus on self-powered flexible sensors and energy harvesters to promote sustainability. By combining inorganic ferroelectric materials with organic/inorganic polymers, flexible devices can meet the requirements of high mechanical strength, piezoelectric and pyroelectric coefficients, and energy storage properties essential for harvesting, sensing, and storage applications. This review article provides a systematic analysis of flexible inorganic ferroelectric-based energy materials, discussing the importance of inorganic ferroelectrics and their current state-of-the-art in energy harvesting, IR sensing, and energy storage. It also explores the challenges and future prospects of developing high-quality flexible inorganic ferroelectric devices for real-world applications.