Self-powering vibration sensor based on a cantilever system with a single-electrode mode triboelectric nanogenerator

Abstract

Here, we report a vibration sensor based on a single-electrode mode triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). The main objective of this study is to develop a vibration sensor (architecture) that can be employed in any application with minuscule design changes to meet the individual objectives. Hence cantilever-based vibration system is selected, which offers an optimum design control in fine-tuning the sensor to operate in the desired frequency spectrum. The cantilever’s proof-mass is suspended by isotropic linear elastic material constituting a scalable and tuneable cantilever-mass system. These oscillations create contactseparation between its triboelectric-active layers (i.e., fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer (FEP) and screen-printed zinc oxide (SP-ZnO)), which develops triboelectric waveforms. This voltage waveform is used for both sensing and powering mechanisms. At resonance, the device produces peak-to-peak voltage, short-circuit current, and power density of 25 V, 10 µA, and 1.38 W/m2. To measure the influence of change in cantilever properties, we varied the number of cantilevers and evaluated the sensor performance. The sensor is reliable with > 99 % accuracy in a broad frequency range of 0 to 400 Hz. The sensor exhibits maximum sensitivity of 14 V/g and can charge a 1 µF capacitor to 2.75 V in < 150 s. The sensor is further tested on a lab-scale vacuum pump with known(induced) faults to estimate the sensor's competence in detecting the machinery faults. Considering the market acceptability, the sensor is developed with established manufacturing techniques like screen-printing, and laser cutting. This study hopes to bridge the lab-to-market gap for TENG-based (vibration) sensors.

Recent Advances in Mechanical Vibration Energy Harvesters Based on Triboelectric Nanogenerators

“…Reproduced with permission. [ 122 ] Copyright 2022, IOP Publishing. i) General illustration of MPNG.…”

“…The circular brass mass taking the role of a freestanding layer is fastened to some strip‐type Al beams, which is depicted in Figure 9e. [ 122 ] In Figure 9f, ZnO film bonded to brass mass will contact upper and lower ZnO film successively under mechanical vibration, generating electricity with an effective reply to vibration frequency from 0 to 400 Hz. The maximum output power falls continuously as the number of beams increases.…”

“…h) Condition monitoring for a vacuum pump using the three-beam TENG. Reproduced with permission [122]. Copyright 2022, IOP Publishing.…”

A Highly Sensitive Triboelectric Quasi‐Zero Stiffness Vibration Sensor with Ultrawide Frequency Response

“…Significant progress has been made in self-powered vibration sensors. [32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45] Compared with the relevant studies, the HSVS-TENG shows remarkable performance for measuring a wider frequency range, with lower acceleration rates, and higher sensitivity (shown in Figure 3e and in Table S1 in the Supporting Information).…”

Triboelectric Nanogenerator with a Rotational Freestanding Mode for Multi-directional Vibration Energy Harvesting

“…The overuse of fossil fuels has caused serious environmental pollution, and the harvesting of clean energy sources from the surrounding environment has received widespread attention . Widely distributed machines such as engines, air compressors, vacuum pumps, transformers, and electric sewing machines generally vibrate violently during the working condition. Effectively harvesting vibration energy can not only power various electronic products but also monitor the running condition of the machine in real time .…”