Folded Elastic Strip-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Harvesting Human Motion Energy for Multiple Applications

Abstract

A folded elastic strip-based triboelectric nanogenerator (FS-TENG) made from two folded double-layer elastic strips of Al/PET and PTFE/PET can achieve multiple functions by low frequency mechanical motion. A single FS-TENG with strip width of 3 cm and length of 27 cm can generate a maximum output current, open-circuit voltage, and peak power of 55 μA, 840 V, and 7.33 mW at deformation frequency of 4 Hz with amplitude of 2.5 cm, respectively. This FS-TENG can work as a weight sensor due to its good elasticity. An integrated generator assembled by four FS-TENGs (IFS-TENG) can harvest the energy of human motion like flapping hands and walking steps. In addition, the IFS-TENG combined with electromagnetically induced electricity can achieve a completely self-driven doorbell with flashing lights. Moreover, a box-like generator integrated by four IFS-TENGs inside can work in horizontal or random motion modes and can be improved to harvest energy in all directions. This work promotes the research of completely self-driven systems and energy harvesting of human motion for applications in our daily life.

Integrating a Triboelectric Nanogenerator and a Zinc‐Ion Battery on a Designed Flexible 3D Spacer Fabric

“…Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) that work based on triboelectrification has been proved effective for harvesting random mechanical energy from the environment, such as water wave energy, acoustic energy, and mechanical energy from human motion, and converting them to electricity . The TENGs have also been demonstrated as powerful self‐powered sensors for monitoring the movement of human body .…”

A novel retractable spring-like-electrode triboelectric nanogenerator with highly-effective energy harvesting and conversion for sensing road conditions

“…Previous studies have shown that there is a strong correlation between output performance and the contact/separation synchronism for a multi-layer TENG. 36,43,44 Due to the complete synchronization of an ideal spring, the current-time waveform of a TENG with a spring structure should be in accord with the normal waveform from a single-layer TENG. To verify the contact/separation synchronization of the SL-TENG devices, a comparison study between a SL-TENG and a typical singlelayer TENG was performed, as shown in Fig.…”

“…To overcome the insufficient energy output by a single-layer TENG, some integrated multi-layer TENGs were studied and reported. [40][41][42][43][44][45] However, owing to usage of skeleton materials, most previous multi-layer devices had a relatively large volume, [40][41][42] which subsequently limits their wide application in TENGs. Moreover, the contact/separation asynchronism derived from each pair of triboelectric materials in a device [43][44][45] leads to the presence of partial current peaks on the output current-time waveform.…”

A Facile Method and Novel Mechanism Using Microneedle‐Structured PDMS for Triboelectric Generator Applications

“…There are abundant successful studies on harvesting wasted energy to serve human daily living, like wind, solar, thermal, mechanical, and chemical energy. By using a new, successful triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) technology, wasted energy from motion, [1,2] sliding, [3,4] vibration, [5,6] hydraulic, [5,7] or air power [8] have received much attention for effectively harvesting energy to successfully use DOI: 10.1002/smll.201700373 The triboelectric generator (TEG) is a cost-effective, multi-fabricated, friendly mechanical-energy-harvesting device. The traditional TEG, generally formed by two triboelectric materials in multilayers or a simple pattern, generated triboelectricity as it worked in the cycling contact-separation operation.…”

“…The traditional TEG, generally formed by two triboelectric materials in multilayers or a simple pattern, generated triboelectricity as it worked in the cycling contact-separation operation. This paper demonstrates a novel, high-aspect-ratio, microneedle (MN)-structured polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based triboelectric generator (MN-TEG) by means of a low-cost, simple fabrication using CO 2 in a tremendous amount of practical applications, including consumer electronics, [9] biosensors, [10] pressure sensors, [11] humidity sensors, [12] and portable electronic devices. [13] Most traditional triboelectric generators are based on a frictional concept in the contacting-releasing working cycle of two triboelectric materials in multilayers or simple patterns.…”