A Wearable Piezoelectric Energy Harvester Rectified by a Dual-Gate Thin-Film Transistor

This paper addresses a wearable piezoelectric energy harvester that combines a PVDF piezoelectric charge generator with an a-Si:H dual-gate thin-film transistor as a rectifier. An analytical model and equivalent circuit elaborate their working principle and device physics. A preliminary experimental study proves the device concept and demonstrates that such a harvester is capable of generating microwatt-range power with a simple 90° finger bending action. Coupled with low-cost and large-area fabrication processes, a pixelated energy-harvesting array can be potentially achievable, making it a promising alternative to energy sources for wearable electronics.