Flexible Piezoelectric Vibration Energy Harvester using a Trunk-Shaped Beam Structure Inspired by an Electric Fish Fin

摘要

This paper presents a bio-inspired structure that can enhance the efficiency of piezoelectric power generation in vibration-type energy harvester. Inspired by an electric fish, Gnathonemus petersii, a trunk structure for high-performance vibration energy harvester is explored. The proposed vibration energy harvester consists of a flexible PVDF film and thin glass fiber plate shaped with auxiliary delta wings to mimic the trunk structure of the electric fish. An experimental study of the prototype energy harvester shows that the proposed piezoelectric vibration energy harvester featuring the new bio-inspired structure produces 45% more power output than the conventional vibration energy harvester due to its electret-like material behavior.