Managing and optimizing the output performances of a triboelectric nanogenerator by a self-powered electrostatic vibrator switch

Abstract

Using a switch is an effective strategy for managing and improving the output performances of a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). However, the previous switches designed for the TENGs are triggered by external mechanical motion or integrated circuits, which increase the complexity and fabrication cost of the TENG. In this article, a TENG system with a self-powered switch has been established by using an electrostatic vibrator switch, in which the switch's vibrating is driven by the potential difference of the TENG itself. In a sliding mode TENG, its output properties can be regulated and improved by the vibrating frequency of the switch, which can be adjusted by the switch's length. Compared with the same TENG without a switch, its instantaneous output power and total output energy for a load resistance of 0.1 MΩ are increased by 1.8 × 107 and 4.7 × 103 times, respectively. In a rotation disk TENG, its maximized output voltage and output energy can be achieved, as the switch's vibrating frequency is adjusted to two times the TENG's frequency. Because of the excellent impedance matching ability of the TENG with a vibrator switch, it can be combined with a transformer to form a power management system, which is verified to have better powering abilities as charging a capacitor and lighting a quantum dot light-emitting diode. The self-powered vibrator switch demonstrated here has promising applications in enhancing TENG's output performances and developing power management circuit.