Vibration‐based energy‐harvesting technology, as an alternative power source, represents one of the most promising solutions to the problem of battery capacity limitations in wearable and implantable electronics, in particular implantable biomedical devices. Four primary energy transduction mechanisms are reviewed, namely piezoelectric, electromagnetic, electrostatic, and triboelectric mechanisms for vibration‐based energy harvesters. Through generic modeling and analyses, it is shown that various approaches can be used to tune the operation bandwidth to collect appreciable power. Recent progress in biomechanical energy harvesters is also shown by utilizing various types of motion from bodies and organs of humans and animals. To conclude, perspectives on next‐generation energy‐harvesting systems are given, whereby the ultimate intelligent, autonomous, and tunable energy harvesters will provide a new energy platform for electronics and wearable and implantable medical devices.
On-Body Piezoelectric Energy Harvesters through Innovative Designs and Conformable Structures
Recent advancements in wearable technology have
improved lifestyle and medical practices, enabling personalized care
ranging from fitness tracking, to real-time health monitoring, to
predictive sensing. Wearable devices serve as an interface between
humans and technology; however, this integration is far from
seamless. These devices face various limitations such as size,
biocompatibility, and battery constraints wherein batteries are
bulky, are expensive, and require regular replacement. On-body
energy harvesting presents a promising alternative to battery power
by utilizing the human body’s continuous generation of energy. This
review paper begins with an investigation of contemporary energy
harvesting methods, with a deep focus on piezoelectricity. We then
highlight the materials, configurations, and structures of such
methods for self-powered devices. Here, we propose a novel combination of thin-film composites, kirigami patterns, and auxetic
structures to lay the groundwork for an integrated piezoelectric system to monitor and sense. This approach has the potential to
maximize energy output by amplifying the piezoelectric effect and manipulating the strain distribution. As a departure from bulky,
rigid device design, we explore compositions and microfabrication processes for conformable energy harvesters. We conclude by
discussing the limitations of these harvesters and future directions that expand upon current applications for wearable technology.
Further exploration of materials, configurations, and structures introduce interdisciplinary applications for such integrated systems.
Considering these factors can revolutionize the production and consumption of energy as wearable technology becomes increasingly
prevalent in everyday life.
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- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10335836
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering
- ISSN:
- 2373-9878
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acsbiomaterials.1c00800
