USING PVDF FILMS AS FLEXIBLE PIEZOELECTRIC GENERATORS FOR BIOMECHANICAL ENERGY HARVESTING

Authors

  • Antonino Proto
  • Karel Vlach
  • Silvia Conforto
  • Vladimir Kasik
  • Daniele Bibbo
  • David Vala
  • Ivan Bernabucci
  • Marek Penhaker
  • Maurizio Schmid

Keywords:

human body, daily activities, elastic fabric, nanogenerators

Abstract

In this paper, a commercial polymeric piezoelectric film, the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) was used to harvest electrical energy during the execution of five locomotion activities (walking, going down and up the stairs, jogging and running). The PVDF film transducer was placed into a tight suit in proximity of four body joints (shoulder, elbow, knee and ankle). The RMS values of the power output measured during the five activities were in the range 0.1 – 10 µW depending on the position of the film transducer on the body. This amount of electrical power allows increasing the operation time of wearable systems, and it may be used to prolong the monitoring of human vital signals for personalized health, wellness, and safety applications.

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Published

2017-03-29

Issue

Vol. 47 No. 1 (2017)

Section

Original Research

License

Copyright (c) 2017 Antonino Proto, Karel Vlach, Silvia Conforto, Vladimir Kasik, Daniele Bibbo, David Vala, Ivan Bernabucci, Marek Penhaker, Maurizio Schmid

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