Impedance Matching Techniques of Multi-layered PZT Ceramics for Piezoelectric Energy Harvesters

Abstract

In this research, the possibility of passive damping system based on the piezoelectric energy harvesting has been proposed and tested. To apply passive damper system, piezoelectric ceramics were stacked, and impedance was matched. Piezoelectric energy harvesters were employed due to their excellent piezoelectric and robust properties. Especially, multilayered (Pb,Zr)TiO3 piezoelectric ceramic have high piezoelectric charge coefficient d(33) and piezoelectric voltage coefficient g(33) for actuator and harvester applications, respectively. Multilayered (Pb,Zr)TiO3 piezoelectric ceramics can generate comparatively high current level compared with single layered piezoelectric ceramics due to its parallel connected capacitors. In energy harvester applications, multilayered (Pb,Zr)TiO3 piezoelectric ceramics have a role of voltage source with capacitive impedance. Due to considerable impedance in voltage sources, the role of impedance matching between the source and output terminal is more critical. By employing the piezoelectric energy harvesting system for the passive damper, output energy of 11J/cm(3) was obtained at the 100F capacitors. Therefore, impedance matching technologies were intensively investigated to obtain maximum output energy for storing capacitors. [GRAPHICS] .