Modelling and fabrication of a compliant centrally supported meandering piezoelectric energy harvester using screenprinting technology

Abstract

This paper reports the design, simulation, fabrication, and experimental testing of a low-frequency piezoelectric energy harvester fabricated using screen-printing technology. A centrally supported meandering geometry is chosen to reduce the torsional mode effects during the unit vibrations and to achieve better power efficiency. The design experiences alternating stress along the beams and a strain-matching polarization technique is used to minimize voltage cancellation. The test results are validated against the finite element solution for which there is a good agreement.