Energy harvesting performance of a dandelion-like multi-directional piezoelectric vibration energy harvester

• Concept of dandelion-like multi-directional piezoelectric vibration energy harvester.
• Analysis of the relationship between output power performance and excitation direction.
• Optimization of structural parameters of energy harvester.

To achieve effective harvesting of ambient vibration energy in different directions, this paper proposes a dandelion-like multi-directional piezoelectric vibration energy harvester (MD-PVEH). After theoretical design, analysis and optimization of the device, validation experiments were carried out, which shows that the dandelion-like MD-PVEH can harvest relatively more energy in different excitations, although it harvests less energy from excitation in individual directions (for example, the angle between excitation direction and X axis is π/2 in XZ plane). Overall, this dandelion-like MD-PVEH with a load resistor of 8 kΩ can reach its maximum output power of about 0.28 mW and maximum energy conversion efficiency of 3% in the harmonic excitation which the frequency and amplitude are 22 Hz and 0.28 mm, respectively. It can meet the needs of many microelectronic devices.