Fabrication and characterization of a flexible nanogenerator using reverse electrowetting concept

Abstract

Many researchers are interested in powering sensors and electrical circuits in wireless networks through energy harvesting from environmental waste energies. In this study, a flexible nanogenerator is designed and fabricated based on the reverse electrowetting concept. The performance of the nanogenerator has been investigated in different conditions including various bias voltage, different excitation frequency, and several external loads. The nanogenerator comprises of water droplets, as a strong dipole fluid, and two dielectric layers; polymethylsiloxane polymer. The latter has good hydrophobicity and flexibility. These two dielectric layers are formed on the surface of copper electrodes by using a spin coater. It is shown that increasing the excitation frequency augments the generated power to some extent that the capacitor is not fully discharged. The nanogenerator power output increases with the external load up to equality between the external load and the nanogenerator's internal resistance. The results show that the fabricated nanogenerator can generate a power density equal to 1.08 W/m2 using 1 ml water droplet, 7V bias voltage, and an excitation frequency of 1 Hz.