Abstract
A resonant vibration energy harvester typically comprises of a clamped anchor and a vibrating shuttle with a proof mass. Piezoelectric materials are embedded in locations of high strain in order to transduce mechanical deformation into electrical charge. Conventional design for piezoelectric vibration energy harvesters (PVEH) usually utilizes piezoelectric materials and metal electrode layers covering the entire surface area of the cantilever with no consideration provided to examine the trade-off involved with respect to maximize output power. This paper reports on the theory and experimental verification underpinning optimization of the active electrode area in order to maximize output power. The calculations show that, in order to maximize the output power of a PVEH, the electrode should cover the piezoelectric layer from the peak strain area to a position, where the strain is a half of the average strain in all the previously covered area. With the proposed electrode design, the output power can be improved by 145% and 126% for a cantilever and a clamped-clamped beam, respectively. MEMS piezoelectric harvesters are fabricated to experimentally validate the theory.
Highlights
In conventional portable electronic devices, electrochemical batteries have been dominant due to their high energy density
The results show that maximizing the electrode layer does not always increase output power; in the contrast, power can be reduced if the low-strain area is covered
The low-strain area is defined as an area, where the strain is less than a half of the average strain in other high strain areas
Summary
In conventional portable electronic devices, electrochemical batteries have been dominant due to their high energy density. The development of ultra-low power electronics extend lifetime of such batteries, recharging and replacing them are usually inevitable for long-time sensor monitoring nodes. In certain applications, such as implantable electronics and wireless sensor nodes, charging and replacing batteries can be both impractical and costly [1]. Used transduction mechanisms for vibration energy harvesting include electromagnetic, electrostatic and piezoelectric effects. Piezoelectric transducers have attracted much research interest due to its relatively high power density and compatibility with conventional micro fabrication techniques
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