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Capsule Triboelectric Nanogenerators: Toward Optional 3D Integration for High Output and Efficient Energy Harvesting from Broadband-Amplitude Vibrations
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posted on 2018-10-01, 00:00 authored by Chaoxing Wu, Jae Hyeon Park, Bonmin Koo, Xiangyu Chen, Zhong Lin Wang, Tae Whan KimThe technology of
triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) has made
great progress as a promising approach to generating electricity from
ambient vibration energy. However, finding a way to generate enough
electrical output efficiently from vibrations with a broadband of
amplitudes is crucial when the relatively low current output of existing
TENGs and the existence of natural vibrations with diverse amplitudes
are considered. In this work, a freestanding and lightweight triboelectric
nanogenerator with a capsule structure (namely, a capsule TENG) is
demonstrated with an aim toward optional 3D integration and the efficient
harvesting of energy from vibrations with a broadband of amplitudes.
The capsule TENGs can be easily integrated to form 1D, 2D, and 3D
structures to realize high electrical output. Under ideal conditions,
the total output power of an integrated capsule-TENG pack can be approximately
estimated as p × n2, where p is the peak output power per capsule TENG
and n is the number of capsule TENGs. When capsule
TENGs with hybrid structures, such as different lengths of the capsule
tube and different numbers of paired electrodes, are assembled, energy
can be more efficiently harvested from vibrations with a broadband
of amplitudes. A total of three parameters (the active area-to-volume
ratio, the power-to-volume ratio, and the power-to-weight ratio),
which are important parameters for 3D-integrated TENGs, are proposed.
The results of this research show that capsule TENGs are versatile
devices that can potentially be used for the efficient harvesting
of ambient vibration energy.