Patent Description:
A conversion between electricity and the following three: solar, thermal and kinetic energy, requires a combination of a solar cell device (optical sensor), a thermal generator device (thermal sensor) and a piezoelectric (mechanical sensor) device which results in a large, cumbersome and complex structure. Hence, there is a need to improve the conversion. <NPL>, discloses that bulk ceramics of (K<NUM>Na<NUM>NbO<NUM>)<NUM>-x(BaNi<NUM>Nb<NUM>O<NUM>)x where x = <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> were fabricated via a solid-state route.

The present invention seeks to provide an improvement in the energy conversion.

It should be noted that while Figures illustrate various embodiments, they are simplified diagrams that only show some structures and/or functional entities. The connections shown in the Figures may refer to logical or physical connections. It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that the described apparatus may also comprise other functions and structures than those described in Figures and text. It should be appreciated that details of some functions, structures, and the signalling used for measurement and/or conversion are irrelevant to the actual invention. Therefore, they need not be discussed in more detail here.

There is a need to simplify the structure of a component for improving the energy conversion capability of the component.

What is explained below relates to multi-functional, optoelectronic, photo-ferroelectric and multi-source energy conversion materials and components which may be used for sensing or for other energy conversion, for example. As an example, the materials and a component utilizing the materials may be used in energy harvesting devices. The problem of the prior art is based on the fact that one has to physically combine the solar cells (optical sensor), thermal generators (thermal sensor) and piezoelectric (mechanical sensor) devices in the complex structure of a hybrid energy converter in order to simultaneously convert or detect solar (optical radiation, in general), thermal and kinetic energy/signals into electricity. Now a component with a material element common to a plurality of energy forms is needed to complete the three tasks. This will save plenty of space for other components in smart devices and wireless sensor networks, for example.

Persons skilled in the art may add other components without increasing the entire size of the device. In addition, fabrication and engineering of multi-source energy converters may be simplified largely.

<FIG> illustrates an example of manufacture of a ceramic material element <NUM> for an electrical component. The ceramic material element <NUM> may be made in a mold <NUM> by forming a mixture of materials A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5, where the material A1 comprises potassium oxide and/or potassium carbon oxide, the material A2 comprises sodium oxide, sodium carbon oxide, potassium oxide and/or potassium carbon oxide, the material A3 comprises barium oxide and/or barium carbon oxide, the material A4 comprises niobium oxide and/or niobium carbon oxide, and the material A5 comprises nickel oxide and/or nickel carbon oxide. The materials A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5 have molar ratios R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5, respectively. The molar ratio R1 is in a range <NUM>-<NUM>, the molar ratio R2 is in a range <NUM>-<NUM>, the molecular ratio R3 is in a range <NUM>-<NUM>, the molar ratio R4 is in a range <NUM>-<NUM>, and the molar ratio R5 is in a range <NUM>-<NUM>, while a relative ratio of R1/R2 is in the range <NUM>-<NUM>, and a relative ratio of R4/R2 is in the range <NUM>-<NUM>. These values apply to the final product.

Irrespective of the process type or route, said mixture is exposed to a heat treatment, which has a temperature within about <NUM> to <NUM> for a first period. After the first period, the mixture is exposed to a temperature within about <NUM> to <NUM> for a second period in order to form the ceramic material element <NUM>. The first period and the second period may be predetermined periods. The first period may last for about one minute to hours, for example. In an embodiment, a duration of the first period is about one minute. The second period may last for about <NUM> to <NUM>, for example. The process conditions such as the heat treatment causes formation of aggregates of the materials without particularly inducing chemical reactions. The process conditions namely cause calcination of the materials which results in the formation of the ceramic material element <NUM>.

After the process has completed, the ceramic material element <NUM> includes a main phase of orthorhombic perovskite-structure and a secondary phase, which, in turn, is a result of the heat treatment and the defined stoichiometry. The material of the ceramic material element <NUM> has a general chemical composition (KxNayBaz)(NbαNiβ)O<NUM>-δ (KNBNNO). However, the optimum composition achieved the defined process steps includes both the main phase of the orthorhombic perovskite-structure (KxNayBaz)(NbαNiβ)O<NUM>-δ and at least one of the secondary phases of KϕNbψOω, such as tetragonal, cubic or the like.

The ceramic material element <NUM> may be made without lead which is an advantage from an environmental point of view. The ceramic material element <NUM> made in this manner is capable of converting both mechanical energy and optical energy to electrical energy. In an embodiment, the ceramic material element <NUM> manufactured in this manner may also be capable of converting mechanical energy, thermal energy and optical energy to electrical energy. Pressure is considered be a form of mechanical vibration energy.

In an embodiment, the materials A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5, which exclude lead, may be in a form of powder. In an embodiment, the materials A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5 may be in a wet form allowing a hydrothermal process, a sol-gel process or the like. Also a nanotechnological process may be utilized.

A person skilled in the art is familiar with manufacturing technologies, per se, and knows how process ceramic composites. In order to achieve the capability to convert said two or three energy forms into electric energy or vice versa, or any energy conversion therebetween, an optimized stoichiometry, such as that described in this document, should be used. The stoichiometry optimizes the comprehensive properties of the ceramic material element <NUM>.

In an embodiment, pressure ranging between about <NUM> MPa and <NUM> MPa may be applied to said mixture during the exposure to the first period of the heat treatment. During the second period of the heat treatment NTP condition may be used (NTP = Normal Temperature and Pressure).

In an embodiment, the mixture may be formed, in addition to the materials A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5, using at least one of the following additional materials: B1, B2, B3, B4 and B5, where material B1 comprises lithium (Li), material B2 comprises manganese (Mn), material B3 comprises tantalum (Ta), B4 comprises antimony (Sb), and B5 comprises copper (Cu) without limiting to these. A person skilled in the art may use also replace any of the additional materials with some other material that he/she finds suitable for the ceramic material element <NUM>. A person skilled in the art may use also add some material not mentioned in this list as one of the additional materials if he/she finds such material suitable for the ceramic material element <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the material B1 may comprise lithium oxide and/or lithium carbon oxide, the material B2 may comprise manganese oxide and/or manganese carbon oxide, the material B3 may comprise tantalum oxide and/or tantalum carbon oxide, the material B4 may comprise antimony oxide and/or antimony carbon oxide, and the material B5 may comprise copper oxide and/or copper carbon oxide. Here the term "oxide" refers to any degree of oxidation i.e. to any oxidation state.

In an embodiment, the mixture may be formed by mixing the materials B1, B2, B3, B4 and B5 in a powder form with the materials A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5. A diameter of particles of the materials B1, B2, B3, B4 and B5 may vary between <NUM> to <NUM>, for example.

In an embodiment, at least one of the materials B1, B2, B3, B4 and B5 may be in a flowable state. The mixture may then be formed by mixing the materials B1, B2, B3, B4 and B5 with the materials A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5 in a wet form.

The material A1 comprises potassium oxide and/or potassium carbon oxide, the material A2 comprises sodium oxide, sodium carbon oxide, potassium oxide and/or potassium carbon oxide, the material A3 comprises barium oxide and/or barium carbon oxide, the material A4 comprises niobium oxide and/or niobium carbon oxide, and the material A5 comprises nickel oxide and/or nickel carbon oxide Here the chemical valence is +<NUM> for A1, +<NUM> for A2, +<NUM> for A3, +<NUM> for A4 and +<NUM> for A5. The ceramic material <NUM> may thus be synthesized from raw reactants of K<NUM>CO<NUM>, Na<NUM>CO<NUM>, BaCO<NUM>, Nb<NUM>O<NUM> and NiO, for example.

In an embodiment, the mixture may be formed by mixing the materials A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5 in a powder form. A diameter of particles of the materials A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5 may vary between about <NUM> to <NUM>, for example.

In an embodiment, at least one of the materials A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5 may be in a flowable state. The mixture may then be formed by mixing the materials A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5 in a wet form.

In an embodiment examples of which are illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, the ceramic material element <NUM> may be formed in form of plate <NUM>. The plate <NUM> may be like a sheet, for example. The plate <NUM> may have electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> on opposite sides of the element <NUM>.

At least one of the electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> may be transparent to the optical radiation that is converted to other energy form or to which some other energy is converted. An ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) electrode is transparent, for example, and that may be utilized but the electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> are not limited to the ITO material. Another of the electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> may be a metal electrode. The metal electrode may comprise gold (Au), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), and/or aluminum (Al), for example.

The ceramic material element <NUM> may be fabricated via thick-film or thin-film technologies, including but not limited to screen-printing, tape-casting, doctor-blading, sputtering, sol-gel, direct writing, 3D-printing and PLD (Pulsed Laser Deposition).

Correspondingly, electrodes of the ceramic material element <NUM> may be fabricated via thick-film or thin-film technologies, including but not limited to screen-printing, tape-casting, doctor-blading, sputtering, sol-gel, direct writing, 3D-printing and PLD (Pulsed Laser Deposition).

The ceramic material element <NUM> may receive and/or output electric energy through the electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>. That is, the ceramic material element <NUM> may generate an electric potential difference between the electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>, which are attached to the ceramic material element <NUM> and which do not have a galvanic contact with each other i.e. not short circuited to each other, when the ceramic material element <NUM> receives mechanical vibrational energy, optical radiation energy and/or thermal energy. In an embodiment, the electric energy may be detected at the electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> i.e. the electric energy may carry information. In an embodiment, the electric energy may be transferred from the electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> to perform work in some other device.

In an embodiment, the plate <NUM> of the ceramic material element <NUM>, which has the electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>, may be attached on a beam <NUM>, which is a supportive structure. Material of the beam <NUM> can be freely chosen, and the beam <NUM> may be made of metal, polymer, glass, ceramic, wood, any combination thereof or the like, for example. One end of the beam <NUM> may be attached to a mechanical vibrational source <NUM> for converting vibrational energy of the mechanical vibrational source <NUM> by the element <NUM> to electric energy. The attachment may be temporal or continuous, and the attachment may be done repeatedly to the same mechanical vibration source <NUM> or to various mechanical vibration sources <NUM> if the attachment is temporal at least once. Then the electric energy may be output through the electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> to any receiving device.

The ceramic material element <NUM> may cover the entire or only a part of the beam <NUM>.

The free and non-attached end of the beam <NUM> may have a tip mass <NUM> made from any material. In an embodiment, the tip mass <NUM> is made of metal, for example. In an embodiment, the tip mass <NUM> is made of steel, for example. In an embodiment, the tip mass <NUM> is made of lead, for example. In an embodiment, the tip mass <NUM> is made of gold, for example. The tip mass <NUM> may have an effect on the frequency band of the vibration such that a desired band of vibration may be converted into electric energy or vice versa.

The mechanical vibrational source <NUM> may comprise a wall, a floor, a ceiling, a window or the like of a building. The mechanical vibrational source <NUM> may comprise a bridge, a bike, a motorcycle, a car, a bus, a train, a submarine, a boat, an airplane, a spacecraft or any part of them, for example. The mechanical vibrational source <NUM> may comprise a motor, an engine, or a generator, for example. The mechanical vibrational source <NUM> may comprise a microphone or a loud speaker, for example. The mechanical vibrational source <NUM> may comprise human or animal body movement, geographical movement, or earthquake, for example.

The unimorph layout shown in the <FIG> may alternatively be a bimorph, i.e. two ceramic material elements <NUM> are attached on both surfaces of the beam <NUM>. In general, there may be a plurality of the ceramic material elements <NUM> on one or two sides of the beam <NUM>. The cantilever may then harvest the vibration energy in a conventional cantilever-structured piezoelectric energy harvesting mode. Alternatively or simultaneously, visible and/or UV (UltraViolet) light as a form of optical radiation may be directed on the top of the component <NUM> and the ceramic material elements <NUM>, and then be harvested via a photovoltaic effect. Alternatively or simultaneously, the component <NUM> and the ceramic material elements <NUM> may be subjected to thermal energy as the heat input, and then the thermal energy may be harvested via a pyroelectric effect. Electric signals may be extracted between the top and bottom electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>. Examples of these signals are illustrated in <FIG>. This kind of energy conversion may apply to any embodiment.

In an embodiment an example of which is illustrated in <FIG>, a case <NUM>, which is also a supportive structure, and the plate <NUM> with the element <NUM> may be attached together. The case <NUM> is in a physical contact with the plate <NUM> at or adjacent to a circumference <NUM> of an area <NUM> of the plate <NUM>. A part of the case <NUM> is over the area <NUM> of the plate <NUM> in a physically contactless manner on a first side <NUM> of the plate <NUM>.

The case <NUM> is in a physical contact with the plate <NUM> at or adjacent to a circumference <NUM> of the area <NUM> of the plate <NUM>. A part of the case <NUM> is over the area <NUM> of the plate <NUM> in a physically contactless manner on a second side <NUM> of the plate <NUM>. The both sided area <NUM> may thus be within the case <NUM>, or in other words the case <NUM> may include the area <NUM> of both sides. In an embodiment, the case <NUM> may contain the whole plate <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the case <NUM> may be transparent to optical radiation on the first side <NUM> of the plate <NUM> for receiving and optical radiation and converting energy of the optical radiation to electrical energy.

In an embodiment, the case <NUM> conducts mechanical vibration to the plate <NUM> with the element <NUM> for converting energy of the mechanical vibration to electrical energy.

In an embodiment, the case <NUM> may be at least partly thermally conductive for allowing the plate <NUM> with the element <NUM> receive thermal energy and convert the thermal energy to electrical energy.

The component <NUM> is illustrated in <FIG> and comprises the ceramic material element <NUM>. The ceramic material element <NUM> is formed, without lead, through the heat treatment as already explained above. The ceramic material element <NUM> is configured to convert optical radiation energy and mechanical vibration energy into electric energy. In an embodiment, the ceramic material element <NUM> is additionally configured to convert thermal energy to electric energy. These energy conversions are possible because the ceramic material element <NUM> includes a main phase of orthorhombic perovskite-structure and a secondary phase, which, in turn, is a result of the heat treatment and the defined stoichiometry. The material of the ceramic material element <NUM> has a general chemical composition (KxNayBaz)(NbαNiβ)O<NUM>-δ (KNBNNO). However, the optimum composition achieved the defined process steps includes both the main phase of the orthorhombic perovskite-structure (KxNayBaz)(NbαNiβ)O<NUM>-δ and at least one of the secondary phases of KϕNbψOω, such as tetragonal, cubic or the like.

The component <NUM> may comprise the plate <NUM> of the ceramic material element <NUM>, which has electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> on opposite sides <NUM>, <NUM> of the element <NUM>. The electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> are configured to conduct electric energy to and/or from the ceramic material element <NUM>.

In an embodiment, a ceramic material element <NUM> that has electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> on two sides <NUM>, <NUM> of the ceramic material element <NUM> receives mechanical vibrational energy and optical radiation energy.

The ceramic material element <NUM> then converts the mechanical vibrational energy and the optical radiation energy to electric energy.

The ceramic material element <NUM> finally outputs the electric energy through the electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>, the ceramic material element <NUM> having both a main phase of orthorhombic perovskite-structure and a secondary phase due to the heat treatment.

As shown in <FIG>, process conditions of the manufacturing process may be measured with at least one sensor <NUM>, <NUM>. The processing conditions may also be adjusted by actuators <NUM>, <NUM>, which are controlled by a data processing unit <NUM>. The data processing unit <NUM> may receive information on the temperature in the mould <NUM> from at least one temperature sensor <NUM>. Alternatively or additionally, the data processing unit <NUM> may receive pressure information on the pressure in the mould <NUM> from at least one pressure sensor <NUM>. Then the data processing unit <NUM> may control either or both of the heater <NUM> and the pressure generator <NUM> such that one or more desired conditions are achieved in the mould <NUM> for one or more desired periods of time.

The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of the ceramic material element <NUM>, which is optimized, and an element manufactured from the same materials according to a prior art method, which is however not optimized in the stoichiometrical manner, are shown in <FIG>. The properties of the optimized and non-optimized compositions are different. Visually the sintered ceramic material of the prior art may be near-transparent with an antique bronze colour, while the ceramic material element <NUM> is different such that it may be near-opaque with a darker-green (or brown) colour, for example.

<FIG> illustrates an example of ferroelectric hysteresis loops of a prior art ceramic material element and the ceramic material element <NUM>. Also, the remanent polarization of the prior art element may only be up to <NUM>µC/cm<NUM> while that of the ceramic material element <NUM> may be larger than <NUM>µC/cm<NUM>. The difference will lead to the piezoelectric coefficient PZC of the prior art element and ceramic material element <NUM> to be <<NUM> pC/N and ><NUM> pC/N, respectively. In addition, the band gaps GB of the ceramic material may be <NUM> eV or even smaller, while those of the prior art element may be <NUM> eV or even higher. Although the prior art element, which is structurally and operationally different from the ceramic material element <NUM> (see <FIG>) due to a different manufacturing method, is able to simultaneously harvest solar, thermal and kinetic energy via photovoltaic, pyroelectric and piezoelectric effects at least from a theoretical point of view, the conversion efficiency is so low that it is technically and particularly practically unusable. No such a product commercially is available despite the long lasting need. However, the ceramic material element <NUM> is capable of generating a clearly higher power density than the prior art element, which makes the ceramic material element <NUM> technically and practically desirable and usable.

<FIG> illustrate examples of signal input to and output by the ceramic material element <NUM> when it receives various energy forms. The test is based on a component <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. A <NUM> MΩ resistor and a high-precision electrometer (current measurement mode) are connected in series with the top and bottom electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> of the ceramic material element <NUM>. Stainless steel is used as material of the beam <NUM> with the dimensions of <NUM> x <NUM> x <NUM>. The dimensions of the ceramic material element <NUM> are <NUM> x <NUM> x <NUM>, coated with ITO top electrode and silver (Ag; screen-printed, for example) bottom electrode and attached at a fixed side of the cantilever. A <NUM> tip mass <NUM>, which may made from lead (Pb), is attached at the free end of the cantilever. The cantilever was mounted on a shaker, which acts as a mechanical vibration source <NUM>, providing the vibration input (<NUM> peak-to-peak amplitude at resonant frequency of the cantilever). A <NUM>, <NUM> mW laser (purple) beam is used as a light source. The heat source is provided by a hot air gun.

<FIG> illustrates an example of the output current and power densities of a cantilever-structured multi-source energy harvester of <FIG> using the ceramic material element <NUM>. A value of vibration (kinetic) power is in the vertical axis (left), a value of electric current density is in the vertical axis (right), and time in seconds is in the horizontal axis. It can be seen that the mechanical vibrational power, whose envelope curve is shown in <FIG>, is converted into electric current, as shown with the curve of an envelope of the electric current density.

<FIG> illustrates an example of the output current and power densities of a cantilever-structured multi-source energy harvester of <FIG> using the ceramic material element <NUM>. In <FIG> the input power is optical radiation. A value of the power of the optical radiation is in the vertical axis (left), a value of electric current density is in the vertical axis (right), and time in seconds is in the horizontal axis. It can be seen that the optical radiation power is converted into electric current.

<FIG> illustrates an example of the output current and power densities of a cantilever-structured multi-source energy harvester of <FIG> using the ceramic material element <NUM>. In <FIG> the input power is thermal power. A value of the thermal power is in the vertical axis (left), a value of electric current density is in the vertical axis (right), and time in seconds is in the horizontal axis. It can be seen that the thermal power is converted into electric current.

<FIG> illustrates an example of the output current and power densities of a cantilever-structured multi-source energy harvester of <FIG> using the ceramic material element <NUM>. In <FIG> the input powers are vibrational power and optical radiation power. A value of the vibrational power and optical radiation power are in the vertical axis (left), a value of electric current density is in the vertical axis (right), and time in seconds is in the horizontal axis. It can be seen that the both the vibrational power and the optical power are simultaneously converted into electric current.

<FIG> illustrates an example of the output current and power densities of a cantilever-structured multi-source energy harvester of <FIG> using the ceramic material element <NUM>. In <FIG> the input powers are optical radiation power and thermal power. A value of the optical radiation power and thermal power are in the vertical axis (left), a value of electric current density is in the vertical axis (right), and time in seconds is in the horizontal axis. It can be seen that the both the optical radiation power and the thermal power are simultaneously converted into electric current.

<FIG> illustrates an example of the output current and power densities of a cantilever-structured multi-source energy harvester of <FIG> using the ceramic material element <NUM>. In <FIG> the input powers are vibrational power, optical radiation power and thermal power. A value vibrational power, optical radiation power and thermal power are in the vertical axis (left), a value of electric current density is in the vertical axis (right), and time in seconds is in the horizontal axis. It can be seen that the vibrational power, the optical radiation power and the thermal power are simultaneously converted into electric current.

The same ceramic material element <NUM> is used in all <FIG>.

<FIG> is an example of a flow chart of the manufacturing method. In step <NUM>, a mixture of materials A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5 excluding lead is formed, the materials A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5 having molar ratios R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5, respectively, where the material A1 comprises potassium oxide and/or potassium carbon oxide, the material A2 comprises sodium oxide, sodium carbon oxide, potassium oxide and/or potassium carbon oxide, the material A3 comprises barium oxide and/or barium carbon oxide, the material A4 comprises niobium oxide and/or niobium carbon oxide, and the material A5 comprises nickel oxide and/or nickel carbon oxide. In step <NUM>, said mixture is exposed to a heat treatment, which has a temperature within about <NUM> to <NUM> for a first period, and thereafter a temperature within about <NUM> to <NUM> for a second predefined period in order to form the ceramic material element <NUM> of the component <NUM>, which converts both mechanical energy and optical energy to electrical energy.

The molar ratio R1 may be in a range about <NUM>-<NUM>, the molar ratio R2 may be in a range about <NUM>-<NUM>, the molecular ratio R3 may be in a range about <NUM>-<NUM>, the molar ratio R4 may be in a range about <NUM>-<NUM>, and the molar ratio R5 may be in a range about <NUM>-<NUM>. Meanwhile, the relative ratio of R1/R2 should be in the range about <NUM>-<NUM>, and the relative ratio of R4/R2 should be in the range about <NUM>-<NUM>. These values apply to the final product.

<FIG> is an example of a flow chart of the energy conversion method. In step <NUM>, mechanical vibrational energy and optical radiation energy is received by a ceramic material element <NUM> that has electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> on two sides of the ceramic material element <NUM>. Also thermal energy may be received. In step <NUM>, the mechanical vibrational energy and the optical radiation energy are converted by the ceramic material element <NUM> to electric energy. Also thermal energy may be converted into electric energy. In step <NUM>, the electric energy is output through the electrodes <NUM>, <NUM>, the ceramic material element <NUM> including a main phase of orthorhombic perovskite-structure and a secondary phase formed through a heat treatment, within about <NUM> to <NUM> for a first period followed by a second period within about <NUM> to <NUM>, from a mixture of materials A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5 excluding lead, the materials A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5 having molar ratios R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5, respectively, where the material A1 comprises potassium oxide and/or potassium carbon oxide, the material A2 comprises sodium oxide, sodium carbon oxide, potassium oxide and/or potassium carbon oxide, the material A3 comprises barium oxide and/or barium carbon oxide, the material A4 comprises niobium oxide and/or niobium carbon oxide, and the material A5 comprises nickel oxide and/or nickel carbon oxide, and the molar ratio R1 may be in a range about <NUM>-<NUM>, the molar ratio R2 may be in a range about <NUM>-<NUM>, the molecular ratio R3 may be in a range about <NUM>-<NUM>, the molar ratio R4 may be in a range about <NUM>-<NUM>, and the molar ratio R5 may be in a range about <NUM>-<NUM>, while a relative ratio of R1/R2 should be in the range about <NUM>-<NUM>, and a relative ratio of R4/R2 should be in the range about <NUM>-<NUM>.

What is written above describes the materials, structures, fabrication methods and performances of the ceramic material element <NUM> and a component utilizing it as an energy converter. The single ceramic material element <NUM>, which is made from only one energy conversion material, is capable of simultaneously converting a plurality of energy forms visible optical radiation, heat, kinetic energy and electricity to at least one energy form. For energy harvesting, optical radiation, heat, kinetic energy can efficiently be converted into electricity. The configurations of conventional multi-source energy converters made from different energy conversion materials can thus be replaced by a component utilizing this simple ceramic material element <NUM>. Because no further simplification beyond this can be made on the structure of the energy conversion component in a multi-source energy converter, the cost, design and engineering of multi-source energy converters may be significantly reduced and simplified with this solution. The applications of this new material may cover the fields of sensing, energy harvesting and optoelectronics, for example.

In this document the concept of using only one energy conversion material to harvest solar or more generally optical radiation, thermal and kinetic energy simultaneously has been revealed for the first time. A material synthesized from raw reactants of K<NUM>CO<NUM>, Na<NUM>CO<NUM>, BaCO<NUM>, Nb<NUM>O<NUM> and NiO, for example, is used as the sole energy conversion component in the multi-source energy harvesters. This material has the chemical composition of (KxNayBaz)(NbαNiβ)O<NUM>-δ (KNBNNO). A proper or optimized stoichiometry is needed to optimize the comprehensive properties of the material, which has been described in this document. With the optimum composition, the material may be made to absorb the entire visible and UV range of the solar spectrum. Meanwhile, it may exhibit remanent polarization RM such that RM > <NUM>µC/cm2 and piezoelectric PZC and pyroelectric coefficients PEC such that PZC > <NUM> pC/N and PEC > <NUM>µC/m2K. It also has a band gap BG such that BG < <NUM> eV, which is able to absorb the entire visible range of optical radiation. Incorporated with some supportive structures, e.g. cantilever beams, diaphragm frames, cymbal caps, etc., the fabricated energy harvesters may convert visible and/or UV light, temperature fluctuation and kinetic energy (e.g. vibration, stress/strain, impact, etc.) into electric signals either individually, temporally at alternative moments and/or simultaneously. With the energy conversion material described in this document, the design of the multi-source energy harvesters using only one energy conversion material may become versatile and universal. The relatively complex conventional designs where different energy conversion materials for harvesting different energy sources are compulsory may not be necessary any more. In addition, the energy conversion material in this invention is lead-free, which avoids the use of toxic and hazardous PZT or other lead-based piezoelectric materials of the conventional kinetic energy harvesters.

It is an advantage that a configuration of multi-source energy harvesters may be substantially simplified. Such a simplification may enable a rapid development of the integration of energy harvesters with silicon-based or other emerging circuit boards and chips using the currently available technology, e.g. CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) or MEMS (Micro-ElectroMechanical Systems), etc. This will then bring self-powered sensors and wireless sensor networks a large step closer to practice by eliminating batteries as the power source, which needs frequent and costly maintenance.

Claim 1:
A method of manufacturing an electrical ceramic composite component, characterized by
forming (<NUM>) a mixture of materials A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5 excluding lead, the materials A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5 having molar ratios R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5, respectively, where the material A1 comprises potassium oxide and/or potassium carbon oxide, the material A2 comprises sodium oxide, sodium carbon oxide, potassium oxide and/or potassium carbon oxide, the material A3 comprises barium oxide and/or barium carbon oxide, the material A4 comprises niobium oxide and/or niobium carbon oxide, and the material A5 comprises nickel oxide and/or nickel carbon oxide; and
exposing (<NUM>) said mixture to a heat treatment, which has a temperature within <NUM> to <NUM> for a first period, and thereafter a temperature within <NUM> to <NUM> for a second predefined period in order to form the ceramic material element (<NUM>) of the component (<NUM>), which has the molar ratio R1 in a range about <NUM>-<NUM>, the molar ratio R2 in a range about <NUM>-<NUM>, the molecular ratio R3 in a range about <NUM>-<NUM>, the molar ratio R4 in a range about <NUM>-<NUM>, and the molar ratio R5 in a range about <NUM>-<NUM>, while the relative ratio of R1/R2 is in the range about <NUM>-<NUM>, and the relative ratio of R4/R2 is in the range about <NUM>-<NUM> for converting both mechanical energy and optical energy to electrical energy for manufacturing material of chemical composition (KxNayBaz)(NbαNiβ)O<NUM>-δ oxide perovskite ceramics.