This research investigates a novel approach to vibration energy harvesting (VEH) using a statically balanced lever mechanism to compress piezoelectric stacks. Current state-of-the-art VEH methods struggle with scaling and harvesting energy efficiently, this proposed prototype addresses these limitations by utilizing the piezoelectric charge constant more efficiently. A prototype was developed and tested, showing a maximal stiffness reduction of 95% and demonstrating the principle's improvement in increasing power output by at most a factor of 116. A model is introduced to predict power output from the response and to estimate the generated power of an unbalanced mechanism. The scalability and improved performance highlight the potential of this approach for future VEH applications.

The thesis investigates the feasibility of using stencil printing to fabricate piezoelectric vibrational energy harvesters. The primary goal was to develop and improve techniques for applying a piezoelectric composite material directly onto a stainless steel substrate. The research encompassed theoretical background, fabrication processes, and experimental validations. Stencil printing, known for its scalability, allows efficient production of large systems and offers flexibility in optimizing the piezoelectric layers' shape, location, and thickness. The study demonstrated that thinner layers (up to 0.25 mm) generated significantly more power than thicker layers. However, challenges like porosity and cracks limit the power output, necessitating further refinement in the fabrication process

This study focuses on enhancing the performance and reliability of piezoelectric bistable vibration energy harvesters. The research systematically classifies and evaluates different design strategies, aiming to maximize power density through strategic stress manipulation. Five designs are selected for optimization using a finite element model and are evaluated based on a proposed performance metric. The study introduces a method for effectively placing piezoelectric material to enhance power density. Experimental validation shows significant performance improvements, with the best design demonstrating a 71% increase in performance over conventional designs. The findings underscore the importance of addressing performance and durability in developing practical energy harvesters.