Shadow enhanced self-charging power system for wave and solar energy harvesting from the ocean

Abstract

Hybrid energy-harvesting systems that capture both wave and solar energy from the oceans using triboelectric nanogenerators and photovoltaic cells are promising renewable energy solutions. However, ubiquitous shadows cast from moving objects in these systems are undesirable as they degrade the performance of the photovoltaic cells. Here we report a shadow-tribo-effect nanogenerator that hybrids tribo-effect and shadow-effect together to overcome this issue. Several fiber-supercapacitors are integrated with the shadow-tribo-effect nanogenerator to form a self-charging power system. To capture and store wave/solar energy from oceans, an energy ball based on the self-charging power system is demonstrated. By harnessing the shadow-effect, i.e. the shadow of the moving object in the energy ball, the charging time shortens to 253.3 s to charge the fiber-supercapacitors to the same voltage (0.3 V) as using pure tribo-effect. This cost-effective method to harvest and store the wave/solar energy from the oceans in this work is expected to inspire next-generation large-scale blue energy harvesting.

Recent Progress in the Energy Harvesting Technology—From Self-Powered Sensors to Self-Sustained IoT, and New Applications

“…Accordingly, blue energy harvesters have been developed to facilitate self-sustainable monitor systems along coastlines and in the ocean [282,283]. In Figure 9a, Zhang et al introduced the shadow effect and hybrid mechanism to enhance a self-charging power system in the ocean [284]. In a transparent ball, a shadow-tribo-effect TENG interacts with a small Al ball rolling with water waves, resulting in a peak power density of 718 µW/cm 2 by stimulated waves and light operating on this hybrid energy system.…”

“…Blue energy. (a) Shadow enhanced self-charging power system for wave and solar energy harvesting from the ocean (Reprinted with permission from ref [284]…”

Carbon-Coatings Improve Performance of Li-Ion Battery

“…It is considered by scientists and governments because of the extremely broad application in the portable consumer electronics and automobile market [ 3 ]. To meet the requirement of energy storage, decreasing the energy consumption [ 4 , 5 ] and developing the next generation, LIB becomes increasingly important [ 6 , 7 ].…”

All‐in‐one energy harvesting system with triboelectric and thermoelectric hybrid generator and Au nanoflower supercapacitor for a light stimulation to the wildlife

“…Several efforts have been applied to integrate the thin film-typed supercapacitors and energy harvesting devices to minimize the wasted energy. [44][45][46][47][48] An integrated device with a freestanding TENG and a micro-supercapacitor using the oxidized single-walled carbon nanotube/polymer electrodes was developed for a stretchable-wearable power source. 49 A self-powered strain sensor was demonstrated by using a TENG-micro supercapacitor based system with mesoporous ZnP nanosheets.…”

“…Due to these enhancements in the energy storage technology, film‐typed supercapacitors can be fabricated without a shortage of the capacitance and easily integrated to the harvesting unit with the ignorable thickness. Several efforts have been applied to integrate the thin film‐typed supercapacitors and energy harvesting devices to minimize the wasted energy 44‐48 . An integrated device with a freestanding TENG and a micro‐supercapacitor using the oxidized single‐walled carbon nanotube/polymer electrodes was developed for a stretchable‐wearable power source 49 .…”