Design Strategies for High-Performance Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Devices
Jishi Zhou1,2, Mingzi Liu1,2, Siqi Gao1,2
1Electronic Materials Research Lab, State Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behavior of Materials and Key Lab of Education Ministry, School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|November 5, 2025
Summary
Piezoelectric energy harvesting converts mechanical vibrations into electrical power, offering a stable, high-density solution for smart sensor networks. This review covers materials, mechanical structures, power management, and applications, highlighting future challenges.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
Background:
- Smart sensor networks require reliable power for structural monitoring and data transmission.
- Traditional power supplies face limitations in distributed, long-term deployments.
- Piezoelectric energy harvesting offers a sustainable power solution for sensors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive review of piezoelectric energy harvesting technologies.
- To analyze key components: piezoelectric materials, mechanical structures, and power management systems.
- To categorize practical applications and discuss future challenges in the field.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of state-of-the-art piezoelectric materials (crystals, ceramics, polymers, composites).
- Review of mechanical structures for efficient energy transmission (high power, wide bandwidth, multi-directional capability).
- Comprehensive review of power management circuits for efficient electrical energy extraction.
Main Results:
- Identified key piezoelectric materials and their electromechanical conversion capabilities.
- Highlighted methodologies for optimizing mechanical energy transmission for higher power output.
- Reviewed various power management circuits and categorized practical energy harvester applications (magneto-mechano-electric, fluid-based, biomechanical, ultrasound-induced).
Conclusions:
- Piezoelectric energy harvesting is a promising power source for smart sensor networks.
- Advances in materials, mechanical design, and power management are crucial for practical implementation.
- Addressing theoretical and practical challenges will further enhance the viability of piezoelectric energy harvesting.
