A Review of Energy Harvesting Physics

Abstract

Energy harvesting refers to the process of capturing, converting, and storing energy from ambient sources such as mechanical vibrations, thermal gradients, solar radiation, electromagnetic fields, and biochemical reactions. Rooted in fundamental physical principles, energy harvesting technologies aim to provide sustainable and autonomous power for low-energy devices, sensors, and distributed systems. This review presents a comprehensive examination of the physics underlying energy harvesting mechanisms, including electromagnetic, piezoelectric, triboelectric, thermoelectric, photovoltaic, and kinetic energy harvesting. Theoretical foundations, governing equations, material considerations, and performance metrics are discussed. A comparative analysis highlights the strengths and limitations of various harvesting approaches. Current challenges and future research directions are also examined, emphasizing the role of energy harvesting physics in enabling next-generation sustainable technologies.