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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2021 Apr 6.
Published in final edited form as: Adv Mater Technol. 2019 Aug 13;4(10):1900177. doi: 10.1002/admt.201900177

Table 2.

Comparison of four transduction mechanisms being pursued in the area of VEH.

Type Advantages Disadvantages
Piezoelectric EH

  1. Convert mechanical vibrations directly to electrical energy

  2. Simple structure

  3. Highest energy density

  4. No needs for separate voltage source

  5. No needs for mechanical stops

  6. High voltage output

  7. Compatible with MEMS

  1. Poor coupling (thin films)

  2. Limited efficiency by materials properties

  3. High impedance output

  4. Low current output

  5. Charge leakage
Electromagnetic EH

  1. More reliable device

  2. No needs for separate voltage source

  3. No needs for mechanical stops

  4. High current output

  1. Device in macro scale due to the EH mechanism associated with a certain movement distance

  2. Low voltage output

  3. Difficult to integrate with electronics and microsystems
Electrostatic EH

  1. Ease of fabrication and integration with MEMS

  2. High voltage output

  1. Separate voltage source needed

  2. Mechanical stops needs

  3. Short-circuiting upon contact of electrodes

  4. Not preferable targeting low frequencies (normally at high operating frequencies)

  5. Off axial vibrations may cause damage (such as rotation)
Triboelectric EH

  1. High conversion efficiency

  2. Low cost and easy fabrication method

  3. Ample material choices

  1. Lower durability and stability

  2. Lower current output

  3. Too dependent on environment factors such as humidity