Dual Resonating Piezoelectric–Electromagnetic Hybrid Vibrational Energy Harvester for Micropower Applications

This study focuses on a piezoelectric–electromagnetic hybrid harvester design for low‐power applications such as sensors and wireless nodes. The structural design, modeling, and simulation of a dual‐resonating hybrid harvester are validated by analytical and finite element analysis (FEA). The uniqueness of this energy harvester is the trapezoidal proof mass structure to minimize the air gap and the tiny repulsive magnet to reduce the frequency to achieve an increase in the overall power density. The harvester features an array of cantilever pairs with proof masses opposite each other. Each pair consists of one proof mass with a coil and another with a magnet constituting an electromagnetic section, both cantilevers with similar piezoelectric elements and electrodes positioned at the middle of each cantilever to become a piezoelectric section. Both sections work simultaneously and form a dual resonating piezoelectric–electromagnetic hybrid vibrational energy harvester (DRHEH). The FEA is utilized to model and simulate the harvester. This simple and compact harvester yields a peak output of 640 μW with a high‐power density of 102 μW cm −3 which is adequate to supply the power requirements for wireless nodes and micropower sensors in applications like medical implants, structural health monitoring, and defense purposes.