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Updated: Aug 7, 2026
07:02
Investigating the Potential of Singly Curved Thin Piezoelectric Transducers for Energy Harvesting and Structural Health Monitoring
Published on: November 14, 2025
Sustained Self-Powered Real-Time Vibration Monitoring Through Integrated Nonlinear Harvesting and Energy-Aware
Yizhou Li1, Ye Zhang1, Hao Tang1
1Thrust of Internet of Things, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Advanced Science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)
|August 5, 2026
Summary
This study introduces a self-powered sensing framework enabling continuous high-frequency data acquisition for structural monitoring. It overcomes energy limitations, allowing real-time waveform monitoring instead of intermittent, low-rate measurements.
Area of Science:
- Engineering
- Materials Science
- Energy Harvesting
Background:
- Continuous high-frequency data acquisition is vital for structural monitoring but limited by self-powered sensing energy budgets.
- Existing self-powered systems often rely on intermittent operation or low sampling rates due to high power demands.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a full-stack self-powered sensing framework for sustained, high-frequency data acquisition.
- To overcome the energy limitations of current self-powered sensing technologies.
Main Methods:
- A synergistic electromechanical-circuit-sensing co-design integrating a quasi-zero-stiffness piezoelectric energy harvester (PEH).
- Utilized a synchronous electric charge extraction (SECE) interface for efficient, impedance-decoupled energy harvesting.
- Implemented an energy-aware sensing module for optimized high-frequency operation.
Main Results:
- Achieved sustained real-time waveform acquisition at a continuous sampling rate of approximately 48 Sa/s.
- Demonstrated continuous high-frequency sensing exceeding limitations of intermittent systems.
- System operated effectively using energy from a single piezoelectric transducer within a 6-8 Hz frequency range at 0.14 g excitation.
Conclusions:
- Established a new paradigm for fully energy-autonomous sensing, transitioning from discrete to continuous real-time monitoring.
- The framework enables unprecedented continuous high-frequency sensing capabilities for self-powered systems.
- Laid the foundation for scalable, infrastructure-level deployment of intelligent monitoring systems.
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