Synergistic Energy Conversion: Triboelectric Hybrid Approaches for Sustainable Self-Powered Sensors and Systems

Abstract

The usage of smart electronic devices increases rapidly and the requirement of a portable power source is in high demand. The smart devices require continuous power supply which the batteries play a major role. However, batteries have limited lifetime, frequent charging, heating over usage and potentially hazardous to environment. To overcome these problems, nanogenerators were invented which can power low power electronics using ambient mechanical energy. This review mainly focusses on various hybrid nanogenerators such as triboelectric-piezoelectric effects (TENG-PENG), triboelectric-electromagnetic effects (TENG-EMG), triboelectric-Magneto Mechano Electric effects (TENG-MME), triboelectric-pyro electric effects (TENG-Pyro), triboelectric-solar effects (TENG-Solar), triboelectric-thermo effects (TENG-Thermo) and its applications. The TENG-PENG device design involves the synthesis of novel perovskite based piezoelectric nanomaterials, blended with polymers to fabricate a composite film that subsequently been used as the active layer in TENG-PENG nanogenerators. The TENG-EMG devices involve designing the hybrid generators in such a way that the device operates in similar direction by which with the TENG and EMG components activates synergistically. The TENG-MME hybrid devices work on the principle of conversion of mechanical energy to electrical energy conversion. The MME mechanism is producing of electrical energy from electromagnetic induction. The TENG-thermo hybrid device works on triboelectric effect and heat. TENG-Pyro device works on the triboelectric effect and Pyro electric effect, the pyro electric effect means converts thermal energy into electrical energy. TENG-Solar hybrid device works on the triboelectric effect and solar works on sun light, and it converts light energy into electricity. In addition, the application of these devices covers self-powered sensors and systems such as flexion extension, air pressure monitoring, impact sensors, body activity counter, position tracker, fishing net tracker, rain drop energy harvesting, wind energy harvesting, water wave energy harvesting and oil spill detection. The development of these hybrid nanogenerators would potentially paves way towards smart devices and smart systems in future.