title: Surfing the High Energy Output Branch of Nonlinear Energy Harvesters.
abstract: Hysteresis and multistability are fundamental phenomena of driven nonlinear oscillators, which, however, restrict many applications such as mechanical energy harvesting. We introduce an electrical control mechanism to switch from the low to the high energy output branch of a nonlinear energy harvester by exploiting the strong interplay between its electrical and mechanical degrees of freedom. This method improves the energy conversion efficiency over a wide bandwidth in a frequency-amplitude-varying environment using only a small energy budget. The underlying effect is independent of the device scale and the transduction method and is explained using a modified Duffing oscillator model.
authors.affiliation: Tyndall National Institute, Lee Maltings, Dyke Parade, Cork T12 R5CP, Ireland.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mallick
authors.affiliation: Tyndall National Institute, Lee Maltings, Dyke Parade, Cork T12 R5CP, Ireland.|School of Mathematical Sciences, University College Cork, Cork T12 XF62, Ireland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amann
authors.affiliation: Tyndall National Institute, Lee Maltings, Dyke Parade, Cork T12 R5CP, Ireland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roy