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.