Advances in Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting for Power Generation

Abstract

The escalating global energy demand is driving research into harvesting ambient energy, with piezoelectric materials offering a compelling method to convert mechanical vibrations, particularly from human footsteps, into electrical energy. This review consolidates recent advances in piezoelectric energy harvesting, focusing on material science, structural optimization, and practical application in footstep power generation. The developments across piezoelectric materials (PZT, PVDF, and nanocomposites), power electronics (rectification, supercapacitors), and complementary technologies like Triboelectric Nanogenerators (TENGs). Challenges like low current output, durability, and cost are discussed. This work highlights the path toward scaling this sustainable, decentralized technology for real-world urban and IoT applications.

Introduction

Due to the growing energy demand, depletion of fossil fuels, and environmental issues with traditional energy sources, piezoelectric energy harvesting (PEH) has emerged as a sustainable alternative. It utilizes the piezoelectric effect—the generation of electricity when certain materials experience mechanical stress.

2. Human Footsteps as an Energy Source

Human footsteps provide a repetitive and significant mechanical force (500–1000 N), making them ideal for harvesting energy through piezoelectric tiles. Such systems are being tested in urban areas, public walkways, railway stations, and airports.

3. System Design and Goals

The paper presents a staircase-based energy harvesting prototype that:

• Uses piezoelectric tiles to generate energy.

• Integrates conditioning circuits for energy storage.

• Logs foot traffic via RFID/BLE.

• Uploads data to a cloud dashboard for analysis.

Thematic Study Overview

A. Fundamentals of PEH

PEH consists of three stages:

1. Mechanical-to-mechanical conversion – stress is applied.

2. Mechanical-to-electrical conversion – piezoelectric effect.

3. Electrical-to-electrical processing – rectification and storage.

Material Types:

• Ceramics (e.g., PZT): High output, brittle, contains lead.

• Polymers (e.g., PVDF): Flexible, lower output.

• Composites: Combine benefits of ceramics and polymers.

• Single Crystals: Rare, high-performing, costly.

B. Human Footstep Power Systems

• Prototype tiles with 12 piezoelectric discs have produced up to 13.4V and 128 mW.

• Series configurations boost voltage; parallel setups increase current.

• Integrated systems include MCUs and IR sensors for power tracking and step counting.

C. Advances in Materials & Storage

• Lead-free ceramics (BaTiO?), reinforced PVDF, and nanocomposites (e.g., with graphene, CNTs) show improved output and durability.

• Energy storage uses supercapacitors and solid-state batteries.

• Modern fabrication: electrospinning, thin-film deposition, 3D printing.

D. Triboelectric Nanogenerators (TENGs)

• Work via triboelectrification and electrostatic induction.

• Effective at low frequencies (walking speeds).

• Use cheap polymers and offer high voltage, low current outputs.

• Sensitive to humidity and wear but ideal for hybrid systems (TENG + PENG).

Comparison Table:

E. Optimization Strategies

• Mechanical: Use acrylic sheets or corrugated boards to distribute pressure.

• Electrical: Rectifiers and DC-DC converters manage irregular signals; supercapacitors store intermittent energy.

4. Challenges & Future Directions

• Low current output limits use without storage.

• Durability concerns, especially with ceramics.

• Scalability and cost issues for widespread deployment.

Future Focus:

• Develop nanostructured composites.

• Create hybrid energy systems.

• Integrate with IoT and smart city infrastructure.

5. Applications

PEH systems can power small-scale, local electronics in high-traffic areas:

• Emergency lighting in tunnels and stairwells.

• Environmental sensors for air and noise monitoring.

• Interactive public displays or advertisement panels.

Conclusion

Piezoelectric energy harvesting from human footsteps is a promising pathway toward sustainable and decentralized power generation. While current implementations are limited to small-scale applications, optimization of materials, structural designs, and circuit integration could scale this technology to real-world urban environments. The reviewed works demonstrate that piezoelectric footstep systems can contribute significantly to green energy initiatives while fostering innovation in smart infrastructure.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Dr. Pritee R. Rane, Piyush D. Wargantiwar, Pratik S. Raut, Gaurav R. Halade, Divya A. Bhagade, Aishwarya P. Rathod, Samiksha S. Bhatkule. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.