Hybrid, Multi-Source, and Integrated Energy Harvesters

Abstract

Energy harvesting is one of the most rapidly growing of the emerging technologies. This field has arrived at the hybrid and multi-source era, where hybrid structures and novel materials are able to boost the energy conversion efficiency and/or make the harvesters capable of benefitting from multiple energy sources simultaneously. Such hybrid and multi-source energy harvesters have not frequently been reviewed in the past, potentially because of the small number of publications compared to that of their single-source and individual counterparts. However, as their number is becoming larger, it is now necessary to give sufficient and frequent reviews of developments in the field. Furthermore, an increasing number of developed energy harvesters are moving out of the laboratory into industrial markets. In practice, energy harvesters need to be integrated with energy storage and/or end users such as sensors and wireless sensor networks. Therefore, the harvester-storage and harvester-sensor integration systems also need to be reviewed frequently. This mini review includes works reported in the first half of 2018 and provides a timely update to the published review. It focuses on the abovementioned hybrid and multi-source energy harvesters as well as on integrated harvesters, energy storage systems and end users (e.g., sensors), including CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) technology-based harvesters and systems.

A Single‐Material Multi‐Source Energy Harvester, Multifunctional Sensor, and Integrated Harvester–Sensor System—Demonstration of Concept

“…This is considered to be a fundamental advance over the currently adopted solution of hybrid structures. [2,32]…”

“…It is of course possible to physically combine different energy harvesters, each responding to different energy sources, within the same structure (e.g., integrating a solar cell, a thermal harvester, and a kinetic harvester), so that multiple energy sources can be harvested with the same device. [32] However, this approach can lead to a summation of the costs of the single-source harvesters' production as well as additional costs related to their integration and testing. Furthermore, space is very limited in small-scale electronics.…”

Ferroelectric Oxides for Solar Energy Conversion, Multi‐Source Energy Harvesting/Sensing, and Opto‐Ferroelectric Applications

“…On the other hand, apart from the solar panels that aim to produce macro‐scale electricity (i.e., >W level power), portable, ubiquitous, and on‐demand micro‐scale electricity (μW–mW) generation has also attracted great attention in the past two decades. This is mainly referred to as energy harvesting (EH) technology, which converts ambient energy (e.g., solar, thermal, and kinetic) existing in the working environment of small electronic components (e.g., sensors) into electricity .…”

“…Compared to conventional battery‐powered counterparts, the self‐powered systems provide advantages in terms of long lifespan (“set and forget′′ solution) and in vivo/in‐construction integration/embedment. Meanwhile, an energy harvester can simultaneously be a sensor of the same input energy source, offering the option of system simplification and energy efficient design.…”

On the Kinematics and Actuation of Dynamic Sunscreens With Tensegrity Architecture

“…A sustainable design approach looks at the optimal design and control of natural ventilation systems, building orientation and shading, through passive and/or active techniques. The latter calls for the incorporation of home automation systems and renewable energy supplies within the building, typically in correspondence with the buildings "skin" (Kuhn et al, 2010;Balduzzi et al, 2012;Bai et al, 2018).…”