A novel thick-film piezoelectric micro-generator

Abstract

The use of alternative electrical energy sources to batteries is of particular significance to remote sensor systems. A vibration-powered micro-generator, based on a screen printed piezoelectric material, is proposed for this purpose. Theoretical and experimental results show that 2 W can be generated for a vibration frequency of only 80 Hz. The device is not optimized and significant improvements are envisaged in the future.