Design of Gear-train based Sliding-mode Triboelectric Nanogenerator and its Hybridization Perspective with Perovskite Solar Cell

Abstract

Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is a renewable energy generation technology that can convert mechanical energy of various forms like wind, tides, or vibrations into usable electrical energy. The output performance of the TENG depends on several parameters such as the amount of input energy, material selection, environmental conditions, etc. If the amount of input energy is low, the output power is reduced. Furthermore, if the input frequency (fin) is low, not only is the output power reduced, but also the working frequency (fw) of the TENG is lowered. This cumulative undesirable effect lowers the output energy from the TENG within a specific time period. Therefore, in this work we employed a gear mechanism with the TENG in order to increase its working frequency, and systematically studied its effects on the TENG output. The gear mechanism consists of the inputgear, which receives the input mechanical energy, and the working-gear, which transfers the input energy to the TENG. By reducing the size of the working-gear, it was possible to increase the TENG output frequency. We fixed the input frequency at 1.5, 3, and 4.5 Hz and controlled the gear-ratio as 1 and 1.7. Under input frequency of 4.5 Hz, we could enhance the TENG output current density by 1.6 times using a gear-ratio of 1.7. Thus, by means of this kinematic system, we were able to increase the working frequency and current output of the TENG. We expect that our gear-train based TENG will help provide high output even under low frequency input energy conditions, and that it will be effectively utilized in practical TENG systems. We also expect that the hybridization of perovskite solar cell and the TENG is a promising energy scavenger.