Structure design and wireless transmission application of hybrid nanogenerators for swinging mechanical energy and solar energy harvesting

Abstract

With the rapid development of the Internet of Things, the maintenance-free and reliable power supply of widely distributed sensors is still a huge challenge, especially in wireless areas. Wireless power transmission is expected to alleviate the issue that the sensors must be connected by wire to power supply devices. Herein, a novel hybrid nanogenerator combining a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) and photovoltaic cell has been demonstrated, which can realize the simultaneous collection and wireless power transmission of swinging mechanical energy and solar energy. The wireless power transmission system based on the hybrid nanogenerator can be actualized through series connection of the TENG and photovoltaic cell with the aid of a specifically designed mechanical switch, enabling the system to generate DC pulses that favor transmitting energies through LC oscillation and a coupled receiver coil. At the receiver coil end, the open-circuit voltage (V_oc) of the hybrid nanogenerator can reach 80 V, showing excellent wireless output performance and the rationality of the wireless power transmission circuit. Moreover, the hybrid nanogenerator can wirelessly power a commercial temperature–humidity meter, which indicates the remarkable potential of improving the layout flexibility of sensor nodes. This work successfully realizes the wireless power transmission of hybrid nanogenerator-harvested swinging mechanical energy and solar energy by a simple and feasible circuit design, which can enrich the form of micro/nano energy adapted to wireless energy transmission.