Toward Self-Powered Sensors for Traffic Monitoring and Energy Harvesting – Comparison of Different SbSI-Based Nanocomposites

This article compares various SbSI-based nanocomposites for use as self-powered sensors. The samples were mounted on a roadway, and their piezoelectric responses were measured during a series of car passes at different speeds. The study demonstrates a correlation between vehicle speed and the sensor output, and investigates how speed influences the output voltage and energy generation. For all samples, both energy and power surface density increase with vehicle speed, indicating that higher strain rates at increased speeds enhance the dynamic piezoelectric response. The flexible SbSI/cellulose sandwich-type structure exhibits the highest energy performance, reaching approximately 5 μJ at 60 km/h, outperforming other configurations. The SbSI/PVP sandwich-type structure achieves the highest power surface density, exceeding 45 μW/cm² at 60 km/h, due to the optimal alignment of SbSI nanowires. Power density is influenced by interaction time and electrode spacing, with reduced spacing improving energy output. Notably, all samples, secured with a silicone layer, showed no damage during testing, ensuring their durability for practical applications.