Hybrid harvesting of wind and wave energy based on triboelectric-piezoelectric nanogenerators

Abstract

Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is an emerging energy harvesting technology that can effectively convert various forms of environmental mechanical energy, including oceanic wind, wave energy, seawater temperature difference energy and others. However, the ocean environment is unstable and lacks a long-term steady state of energy. This leads to low energy harvesting efficiency for existing devices based on triboelectric nanogenerators. To solve this challenge, a hybrid harvesting device based on triboelectric-piezoelectric nanogenerators has been proposed to harvest both wind and wave energy. The device comprises three energy harvesting modules: wind energy harvesting triboelectric nanogenerator (WD-TENG), wind energy harvesting pizeoelectric nanogenerator (WD-PENG) and wave energy harvesting triboelectric nanogenerator (WE-TENG), all of which can work together or independently. This provides a significant improvement in the technical reliability of micro-nano energy harvesting technology in the ocean and other unstable environments. In a simulated environment, each module generates 3.975 mW, 1.160 mW and 0.2925 mW of electricity and the corresponding power density is 5.064 W/m3, 1.478 W/m3 and 1.092 W/m3. With the help of an energy collection circuit, the device powers LEDs, temperature and humidity sensors. This innovative solution offers new possibilities for self-sustaining ocean sensors and electronics, and may be widely applied in the next generation of the Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT).