Travel switch integrated mechanical regulation triboelectric nanogenerator with linear–rotational motion transformation mechanism

Abstract

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are being widely studied as a new way to harvest environmental energy. TENGs can reliably provide energy for low-power sensors, which are widely used in industry and modern life. Aiming to convert external random vibration energy into controllable electrical energy, this paper presented a travel switch integrated mechanical regulation triboelectric nanogenerator (TSMR–TENG) with linear–rotational motion transformation mechanism. The TSMR–TENG consisted of a shell, linear–rotational motion transformation mechanism, inertia wheel, and travel switch. This structure possessed the advantages of small size, easy integration, and high reliability. In the device, the linear–rotational motion transformation mechanism converted linear random vibrations into rotation, and then the energy of rotation was stored in a spiral spring. When enough energy accumulated, the travel switch turned on, and then the spiral spring caused the inertia wheel to rotate. The triboelectric materials on the inertia wheel slid against a copper electrode, which converted the stored energy into electricity. The TSMR–TENG achieved controllable electrical energy output under random vibration excitation. The open–circuit voltage of the TSMR–TENG was about 400 V and its short-circuit current was 17 μA. The TSMR–TENG lit up 500 light-emitting diodes in a single operation and drove commercial thermometers through rectifier bridges and capacitors. This work provides a new type of TENG that can generate electricity steadily in the natural environment.