Energy harvesters for wearable electronics and biomedical devices

Abstract

Energy harvesters (EHs) are widely used to transform ambient energy sources into electrical energy, and have tremendous potential to power wearables electronics and biomedical devices by eliminating, or at least increasing, the battery life. Nevertheless, the use of EHs for a specific application depends on various aspects including the form of energy source, the structural configuration of the device, and the properties of materials. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the classification of EHs, notably thermoelectric generators (TEGs), triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), and piezoelectric generators (PEGs) that allows a wide variety of devices to be operated. The EHs are discussed in terms of their operating principles, optimization factors, state-of-the-art materials, and device structure, that directly influence their operational efficiency. Besides, the breakthrough performance of each of the EHs listed above is highlighted. From the review and analysis, the maximum output power density of 9.2 mW cm-2, 50 mW cm-2, and 64.9 µW cm-2, respectively, are obtained from the TEG, TENG, and PEG, respectively. Furthermore, recent applications relevant to a specific EH and their output performance, are also enlightened. Eventually, the essential outcomes and future direction from this review are discussed and encapsulated.