| Abstract [eng] |
During the last several decades the progress in microfabrication techniques and ultra-low power integrated circuits has encouraged the development of various portable, wearable and implantable smart devices for a wide range of wireless communication, fitness tracking, navigation, physiological sensing, etc. Unfortunately, conventional batteries now used in such devices have insufficient energy density, which leads to a necessity of regularly recharging or replacing them. The disposal of electrochemical energy modules is related to environmental hazards. As a consequence, micro energy harvesting was developed as a separate actively growing research field in order to reduce the heavy need of battery technology which obstructs higher advancements in wearable electronics. The past 10–15 years have shown an increase in research activities on alternative biomechanical energy harvesting since a large amount of human-based mechanical energy could be converted to electrical energy. A promising energy conversion method is vibrational piezoelectric energy harvesters (V-PEHs) with inserted smart materials. For example, V-PEHs are highly suitable for autonomous, self-charging smart devices because of their high energy density and possible implementation at macro/micro/nano scales. |
