Solar energy harvesting is one of the leading branches of research in the world. Sun is the greatest source of energy on earth. A lot of techniques are developed in order to tap this energy as much as possible. Optomechanical resonance is a very novel approach for achieving this objective. Solar energy is used to heat a cantilever beam which vibrates at its natural frequency. Due to vibration the beam stretches and compresses alternatively. These deformations are transferred to a PZT (lead zirconate titanate) patch which in turn develops voltage. This voltage is used to charge a battery. Thus solar energy is used directly for producing electricity. Various parameters influence the production of this voltage. The dimensions of the cantilever affect the natural frequency. The applied light frequency, intensity, waist radius etc. affect the power input to the system. Also a coating of superior thermal conductivity material leads to a better absorption of the applied heat flux. The thickness of this coating also affects the vibration parameters. Thus all these parameters affect the net functioning of MEMS photocell. Keywords: Micromechanical resonator, MEMS, solar energy harvestingCite this Article Rhushikesh Ghotkar, Satyabodh Kulkarni. Design and Analysis of Cantilever Optomechanical Resonator. Trends in Machine Design. 2015; 2(1): 21–25p.
