Performance enhancement of human motion based piezoelectric energy harvesters

Harvesting electricity from human motions using piezoelectric materials is attracting the attention of many researchers in recent years. These harvesters can potentially power portable electronic devices without the need of external power sources. The aim of this thesis was to improve the efficiency of piezoelectric energy harvesting from human motions. To achieve this, optimising orientation of piezoelectric cantilever beam investigated; the new mechanism consisting of double pendulum system was studied and finally the new shape design of cantilever was proposed to generate multi resonance peaks. These achievements may help to improve the efficiency of piezoelectric energy harvesters in the future