Comparative Analysis of Voltage Output in Piezoelectric Sensors for Energy Harvesting Applications

Abstract

Piezoelectric materials offer promising solutions for sustainable energy harvesting by converting mechanical deformation into electrical energy. This study investigates the voltage output characteristics of three piezoelectric sensor types — 12 mm ceramic discs, 35 mm ceramic discs, and flexible PVDF film — under controlled impact conditions at drop heights of 3, 6, 9, and 12 cm using a 2.7 kg mass. An Arduino Uno R3 captured voltage outputs across repeated trials to assess performance, repeatability, and reliability. Results demonstrated that the 12 mm disc achieved the highest voltages at high impact forces, the 35 mm disc showed the greatest sensitivity at moderate energies, and the PVDF film demonstrated the most linear response and the highest consistency across all conditions. Statistical analysis confirmed that observed differences exceeded measurement uncertainty, with coefficients of variation below 10%. These findings indicate that sensor selection should be matched to application requirements: 12 mm discs for high-energy impact detection, 35 mm discs for moderate-force energy harvesting, and PVDF films for flexible, motion-sensitive systems. This work contributes to the optimization of piezoelectric sensor design for self-powered devices and wearable electronics.