Fabric-based piezoelectric energy harvesting

A device for harvesting energy from clothing comprising:

• a piece of clothing;
• one or more piezoelectric harvesters coupled with the piece of clothing, the piezoelectric harvesters capable of producing electric energy in response to the movement of the piece of clothing, wherein the one or more piezoelectric harvesters include:
• a first electrode including a first set of projections,
• a second electrode including a second set of projections interleaved with the first set of projections, and
• a piezoelectric material positioned between the interleaved portions of the first set of projections and the second set of projections, wherein the piezoelectric material is in communication with the first set of projections and the second set of projections;
• and
• one or more energy storage mediums coupled to the one or more piezoelectric harvesters, the energy storage mediums capable of storing the energy produced by the one or more piezoelectric harvesters.

A method for harvesting energy from fabric comprising:

• moving a piece of fabric such that one or more piezoelectric harvesters generate electricity;
• storing the generated electricity in one or more energy storage mediums;
• and
• wherein the one or more piezoelectric harvesters include:
• a first electrode including a first set of projections,
• a second electrode including a second set of projections interleaved with the first set of projections, and
• a piezoelectric material positioned between the interleaved portions of the first set of projections and the second set of projections, wherein the piezoelectric material is in communication with the first set of projections and the second set of projections.