Solar cell-based hybrid energy harvesters towards sustainability

Abstract

Energy harvesting plays a crucial role in modern society. In the past years, solar energy, owing to its renewable, green, and infinite attributes, has attracted increasing attention across a broad range of applications from small-scale wearable electronics to large-scale energy powering. However, the utility of solar cells in providing a stable power supply for various electrical appliances in practical applications is restricted by weather conditions. To address this issue, researchers have made many efforts to integrate solar cells with other types of energy harvesters, thus developing hybrid energy harvesters (HEHs), which can harvest energy from the ambient environment via different working mechanisms. In this review, four categories of energy harvesters including solar cells, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs), and thermoelectric generators (TEGs) are introduced. In addition, we systematically summarize the recent progress in solar cell-based hybrid energy harvesters (SCHEHs) with a focus on their structure designs and the corresponding applications. Three hybridization designs through unique combinations of TENG, PENG, and TEG with solar cells are elaborated in detail. Finally, the main challenges and perspectives for the future development of SCHEHs are discussed.

Recent major advancements in perovskite solar cells

“…Hybrid energy harvesting systems made by combining solar cells with other energy harvesting technologies, like triboelectric nanogenerators, piezoelectric nanogenerators, and thermoelectric generators, are expected to address the challenge of unstable output of solar cells susceptible to weather conditions. These hybrid energy harvesters are systematically summarized in a recently published review [161]. We think these will be promising research directions in the future.…”

High-Performance Flexible Temperature Sensors Based on Laser-Irradiated Ag-MWCNTs/PEDOT:PSS

“…PEDOT:PSS is also an environmentally friendly material that does not require the use of hazardous solvents or high-temperature treatments in its preparation compared to conventional organic semiconductors. Moreover, PEDOT:PSS could be prepared as a thin film using simple processing methods such as printing and coating, making it cost-effective to produce and easy to prepare on a large scale . PEDOT:PSS has been extensively investigated for the development of various sensor types.…”

“…Moreover, PEDOT:PSS could be prepared as a thin film using simple processing methods such as printing and coating, making it cost-effective to produce and easy to prepare on a large scale. 30 PEDOT:PSS has been extensively investigated for the development of various sensor types. However, their thermoelectric performance in temperature sensors is limited by the low Seebeck coefficient and thermal conductivity.…”

Photothermoelectric and Hydrovoltaic Effect Synergistic Multistage Core–Shell Structure Coated Fabrics of Flexible Fabricated Photothermoelectric Panels

“…The human body is a huge reservoir of energy, and each adult can produce 100 W of power output, of which the human body dissipates about 2.4–4.8 W. , If this heat energy generated by the human body can be successfully converted into electricity, then it can meet the demand for power supply for wearable devices; in addition, the human body is in a complex and changing environment, which will be affected by self-body heat, solar energy, sweat, etc., and it is very meaningful to collect multiple energies in the complex environment to convert electrical energy. − Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a multifunctional fabric to meet the requirements of the human body’s adaptability to changing environments. Researchers have now developed several wearable fabrics for different environments in which the human body is placed. − For example, Zhang et al developed a double-shell photovoltaic thermoelectric textile made of polypropylene fibers using a two-step in situ method. The optimized photothermoelectric textile could generate voltage output from 294.13 μV to 536.47 μV with a power density of 13.76 nW·m –2 .…”