Abstract
Ambient vibration energy is highly irregular in force and frequency. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) can convert ambient mechanical energy into useable electricity. In order to effectively convert irregular ambient vibrations into electricity, the TENG should be capable of reliably continuous operation despite variability in input forces and frequencies. In this study, we propose a tandem triboelectric nanogenerator with cascade impact structure (CIT-TENG) for continuously scavenging input vibrations with broadband frequencies. Based on resonance theory, four TENGs were explicitly designed to operate in tandem and cover a targeted frequency range of 0–40 Hz. However, due to the cascade impact structure of CIT-TENG, each TENG could produce output even under non-resonant conditions. We systematically studied the cascade impact dynamics of the CIT-TENG using finite element simulations and experiments to show how it enables continuous scavenging from 0–40 Hz even under low input accelerations of 0.2 G–0.5 G m/s2. Finally, we demonstrated that the CIT-TENG could not only scavenge broadband vibrations from a single source such as a car dashboard, but it could also scavenge very low frequency vibrations from water waves and very high frequency vibrations from air compressor machines. Thus, we showed that the CIT-TENG can be used in multiple applications without any need for redesign validating its use as an omnipotent vibration energy scavenger.
Highlights
Triboelectrification is a ubiquitous and naturally occurring phenomena that occurs when two different materials come into contact and rub against each other
Due to the increasing demand for renewable energy, there has been considerable interest shown in Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) based energy harvesting systems by the research community, and several approaches ranging from material processing to structural design have been proposed to improve and regulate its output[6,7,8]
Under non-linear impact the output frequency response of a vibration TENG stiffens near the resonance region resulting in a broadband output which depends on level of input forces and gap distance between the moving and fixed layers of the TENG9,10
Summary
Based on these results we conclude that the cascade impact structure induced each TENG to show significant vibration at their respective natural resonance frequencies, but even at non-resonant frequencies which become more prominent as the input acceleration levels were increased. The CIT-TENG is an omnipotent solution for all vibration energy scavenging applications
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