Electrical Output Performance Research Articles

A comparative simulation between monofacial and bifacial PV modules under palestine conditions

During the last period, solar energy gained a lot of attraction and is expected to be the replacement for non-renewable energy due to its great potential and advantages, one of these advantages is that solar energy is scalable, which means it can be used on an industrial scale or lesser, another advantage is that solar energy is a clean source, this means it causes no pollution to the environment, in addition, solar energy is the future, as its cost is going down and non-renewable energy is becoming more and more expensive. This project aims to conduct a comparative analysis of the performance of bifacial and monofacial solar panels under diverse conditions. The investigation involves examining the influence of varying albedo levels and the type of surface beneath the PV panels, including sand, white paint, black asphalt, or artificial grass. The renowned software tool PVsyst will be employed to simulate and analyze PV systems. The location selected for this study is An-Najah National University in Nablus, Palestine. The PV panels will be oriented towards the true south, and a tilt angle of 28˚ will be employed. Through meticulous simulations and thorough analysis, this research seeks to provide comprehensive insights into the contrasting performance characteristics of bifacial and monofacial solar panels across different environmental contexts. The ultimate objective is to contribute valuable knowledge regarding the suitability and optimal utilization of these PV technologies. The study aims to evaluate and compare the electrical output, energy yield, and overall performance of bifacial and monofacial solar panels under different scenarios. The project will analyze factors such as the energy gain achieved by the bifacial panels due to rear-side irradiance reflection, the impact of albedo on the performance of bifacial panels, and the influence of shading on both panel types.

MXene Lubricated Tribovoltaic Nanogenerator with High Current Output and Long Lifetime

HighlightsSuccessfully solves the key issue of tribovoltaic nanogenerators (TVNGs) lifetime (90,000 cycles) and improves its output current density (754 mA m−2) simultaneously.Conductive polar liquid with MXene as additive is proposed as the dominant factor in enhancing the electrical output performance and durability of TVNG simultaneously.The mechanism of lubricated TVNG with enhanced output performance is explained from the perspective of solution polarity at the first time.Mxene solution exhibits universality in different types of semiconductor systems (Cu and P-type Si, and Cu and N-GaAs as material pairs).

Influence of clamping pressure on contact pressure uniformity and electrical output performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell

The contact pressure distributions are initially analyzed by conducting structural simulations on a single cell and a 40-cell stack of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) at various clamping pressures. The corresponding experimental pressure-sensitive film distributions are obtained that shows a good agreement with the simulation results. Then, the experimental and simulation data are compared by transforming images of pressure-sensitive film from experiments into detailed contact pressure data. The contact pressure uniformity of the simulation and experiment are compared by introducing mean pressure error and fluctuating intensity, and the optimal pressure range for best contact pressure uniformity is determined to be between 1.25 MPa and 1.67 MPa. Finally, CFD simulation approach is utilized to assess the electrical output performance. When comparing interface contact resistance (ICR) to porosity, the results indicate a reduction in power density of 5.1% and 1.2% at low clamping pressure compared to the case without taking ICR and porosity into account, while it decreases by 7.5% and 6.3% under high clamping pressure, respectively. It also deduced that there exists an optimal clamping pressure range for the best electrical output performance. The optimal clamping pressure is approximately 1.33 MPa, which is consistent with the previous structural results. In summary, experiments and numerical calculations of structure and fluid are carried out in this study to comprehensively evaluate the influence of clamping pressure on the structural and electrical performance of the PEMFC, the methods of experiments and simulations can offer guidance on the stack assembly process in practical applications.

Paper-Based Hydroelectric Generators for Water Evaporation-Induced Electricity Generation.

The research presented in this paper introduces a novel environmental energy-harvesting technology that harnesses electricity from the evaporation of water using porous structural materials. Specifically, a strategy employing paper-based hydroelectric generators (p-HEGs) is proposed to capture the energy produced during water evaporation and convert it into usable electricity. The p-HEGs offer several advantages, including simplicity in fabrication, low cost, and reusability. To evaluate their effectiveness, the water evaporation-induced electrical output performance of four different p-HEGs are compared. Among the variants tested, the p-HEG combining wood pulp and polyester fiber exhibits the best output performance. At room temperature, this particular p-HEG generates a short-circuit current and open-circuit voltage of ≈0.4µA and 0.3V, respectively, thereby demonstrating excellent electrical stability. Furthermore, the electrical current and voltage generated by the p-HEG through water evaporation are able to power an LED light, both individually and in series and parallel connections. This study delves into the potential of electricity harvesting from water evaporation and establishes it as a viable method for renewable energy applications.

A triboelectric nanogenerator based on bionic design for harvesting energy from low-frequency vibration

With the development of Internet of Things and the increase of wearable devices, the infinite self-power supply of small devices such as wireless sensors and portable devices has been widely concerned. Considering that the vibration energy in the environment is not affected by day and night, season and climate, and widely distributed, its mechanical energy can be collected. If the low-frequency and small amplitude vibration energy in the environment can be collected and converted into electric energy, it will provide a reliable solution for the self-power supply of these small devices. In this study, we designed a miniaturized energy harvester inspired by bionics. The resonance mechanism improved by nonlinearity is used to realize the amplification of vibration in low width frequency band. And triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is used to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. Through the modeling and dynamic analysis of the system, we find a low resonance frequency band as the working range of the system. Subsequently, a prototype of the bird legs-type TENG was fabricated and tested to verify the design concept. We verify the ability of the prototype to amplify low-frequency vibration and optimized the structural parameters. Moreover, we demonstrate the excellent electrical output performance of the prototype in low-frequency and small external excitation environment and give two application prospects of wearable prototype and vehicle-mounted prototype.

Computational fluid dynamics-based PDMS-graphene triboelectric nanogenerator ‘PG-TENG’ blue energy harvester

Developing cost-effective and efficient energy harvesting technologies is critical with the rising demand for clean and sustainable energy. In this research paper we presents a CFD-based study on a PDMS-Graphene Triboelectric Nanogenerator (PG-TENG) for blue energy harvesting. Our study focuses on the vertical (contact-separation) mode of the PG-TENG and investigates the effect of TENG’s varying size on its electrical output performance. To optimize the properties and performance of the PG-TENG system, we used COMSOL Multiphysics for mathematical-modeling and simulations. The outcomes show that the varying size of the PG-TENG significantly impacts its electrical output capabilities, with larger PG-TENGs exhibiting higher current and voltage outputs. Moreover, we compared our outcomes to other studies on graphene-based TENGs and highlighted the advantages of our PG-TENG in terms of durability, performance, and mechanical stability. Our research contributes to the field of blue energy generation by providing insights into the design and optimization of PG-TENGs for low-cost, effective, and efficient energy harvester devices.

High-performance triboelectric nanogenerator based on theoretical analysis and ferroelectric nanocomposites and its high-voltage applications

With the growing economy and technology, disease prevention and individual health are becoming more and more important. It is highly urgent to develop a non-toxic, self-powered, and safe high-voltage power source to prevent diseases spread by mosquitoes, especially in isolated or remote areas. Herein, we reported a high-performance rotary triboelectric nanogenerator (R-TENG) based on customized theoretical simulations and a ferroelectric nanocomposite intermediate layer. The customized theoretical simulations based on gradient electrode gaps were established to optimize gap angles and segment numbers of the electrodes, which could prevent air breakdown and enhance the R-TENG output energy by at least 1.5 times. Meanwhile, the electrical output performance of the TENG was further enhanced with a highly oriented BaTiO₃ (BTO) nanoparticles intermediate layer by about 2.5 times. The open-circuit voltage of R-TENG reached more than 6 kV and could continuously light 3420 LEDs or 4 serially connected 36 W household fluorescent lamps. Therefore, a self-powered high-voltage disease prevention system is developed based on the high-performance R-TENG to reduce the risk of disease transmission. This work provides a prospective strategy for the further development of TENGs and expands practical applications of self-powered and high-voltage systems.

Core-Sheath Fiber-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Energy Harvesting and Self-Powered Straight-Arm Sit-Up Sensing.

Fiber-based triboelectric nanogenerators (F-TENGs), a green and sustainable energy-harvesting and transformation technology, hold great potential in the areas of portable energy harvesters and smart wearable sensors. Herein, the core-sheath structure F-TENGs (CF-TENGs) are developed by using continuous production equipment. The CF-TENGs, consisting of an elastic conductive fiber (core layer) and silicone rubber (sheath layer), can simultaneously accomplish stable reversible strain and excellent electrical output performance. High outputs (an open-circuit voltage of 17.5 V and a short-circuit current of 0.1 μA at a frequency of 1 Hz) can be attained when the CF-TENGs (a length of 5 cm) are contacted with a nylon fabric. The CF-TENGs not only act as self-powered sensors for applications in motion monitoring but also efficiently transfer mechanical energy into electric energy. As self-powered wearable sensors, the CF-TENGs can accurately indicate various human physiological movements. Moreover, they can be applied on straight-arm sit-up sensing to achieve standardized sport testing. Importantly, a CF-TENG-based weaved fabric presents high electrical performance to meet requirements as an energy harvester. These CF-TENGs provide a significant insight to facilitate the development of fiber-based triboelectric applications.

Design and optimization of Miura-Origami-inspired structure for high-performance self-charging hybrid nanogenerator

A hybrid piezoelectric-triboelectric-electromagnetic nanogenerator (HPTENG-EMG) has been designed meticulously by focusing on material selection, structural design, and performance evaluation. The module can operate using three parts; piezoelectric, triboelectric and an electromagnetic mechanism. The hybrid concept of triboelectric and piezoelectric is achieved by fabricating triboelectric-piezoelectric composite materials working through the TENG mechanism. In the material design part, the composite film between bacterial cellulose (BC) and BaTiO3 nanoparticles (BT-NPs) fabricates and optimizes its properties with a suitable number of BT-NPs. The unique Miura-Origami (MO) hexagonal multilayer shape is applied within the structural design to increase the contact surface area, which enhances the electrical output signal. The third part of the hybrid system incorporates an electromagnetic generator (EMG) by designing a structure of compact and lightweight cylindrical tubes with magnetic levitation structures. The hexagonal multilayer shape of MO composite TENG (MO-CTENG) generates an open-circuit output voltage (VOC) of ∼414 V and short-circuit output current (ISC) of ∼48.3 μA with maximum output power (P) of about ∼6.94 mW. The highest ISC value of ∼38 mA can be promoted in the optimized EMG, which is higher than the MO-CTENG by ∼786 times. The practical application of this technology is demonstrated by human shaking motion for battery charging in the wireless Global Positioning System (GPS). The maximum direct current output voltage (VDC) saturation of 30 V can be achieved within 19 s. This work provides a potential methodology for increasing electrical output performance by capturing more mechanical energy through the conjunction of three phenomena into a single device, which exhibits a promising way of addressing an energy crisis.

Smart triboelectric floor based on calcium silicate-carbon composite for energy harvesting and motion sensing applications

Harnessing mechanical energy from footsteps has been proposed using a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) fabricated from calcium silicate (CS) composites, which are the main components of cement materials. Electrical output performance of a CS-based TENG is enhanced by addition of conductive Super P® carbon black (SP). A 0.04 wt% addition of SP to CS materials is found to increase the dielectric constant and contributes to the intensified triboelectric charge density and hence the electrical output of the CS TENG. The CS-SP TENG exhibits a significant improvement in power output that is over ten times greater than unmodified CS TENG. Furthermore, incorporation of SP also enhances crystallization which reduces the formation of air voids. This leads to a changed surface morphology and improved compressive strength of the CS composite. A smart floor application of the CS-SP TENG to convert mechanical energy from human steps into electricity and motion sensor are also demonstrated.

The Effects of Sintering Conditions and Processes on the Thermoelectric and Tribological Properties of High Manganese Silicide Mn4Si7

Triboelectric nanogenerator as new energy technology needs to develop new triboelectric semiconductor materials with excellent electrical transport properties and friction properties for better electric output performance. High manganese silicide Mn4Si7 bulks were prepared from Mn powders and Si powders at 1273 K for 1 h. The residual Si phase and MnSi phase coexisted in the primary sintered Mn4Si7 compacts. The fine Mn powder obtained from mechanical pulverization and secondary sintering can accelerate the formation of Mn4Si7 bulks. MnSi disappeared and slight amount of Si phase remained in the secondary sintered Mn4Si7 bulks. Due to the slight decrease in the resistivity, ZT of Mn4Si7 bulks reached 0.43 at 813 K. The thermal conductivity of the secondary sintered Mn4Si7 compact increased due to the pulverization of the primary Mn4Si7 bulk and the growth of crystal grains. The thermoelectric properties of Mn4Si7 compact are reduced after heat treatment. Secondary sintering can increase the density of Mn4Si7 compact. For the friction property of Mn4Si7, secondary sintering and heat treatment can reduce the coefficient friction and mass loss of primary sintered Mn4Si7 compact. Based on the excellent thermoelectric properties and low wear loss at low loads of Mn4Si7, it is possible to be employed as new triboelectric materials for triboelectric nanogenerator. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.

EVA/PZT‐Composite‐Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Energy Harvesting

The development of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) has experienced rapid advancement in the past decade. In the present study, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) polymer and lead zirconium titanate (PZT) are taken as the host materials. The EVA–PZT elastomer composites are fabricated using different weight percentages (2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5%, and 10.0%) of PZT in EVA by solvent casting. The X‐ray diffraction investigation of these films reveals the presence of the PZT material and the formation of composites. TENGs have the potential to revolutionize energy harvesting and provide a sustainable energy source for a variety of applications. The electrical output performance of the single‐electrode‐mode‐based TENG is examined. The maximum output of 60 V and 165 nA is produced by the EVA–PZT 7.5 wt%/Al‐based TENG device. Further, TENG is used to power devices and gather biomechanical energy.

Electrical output performance of PZT-5H under the superposition of temperature, temperature change rate and pulse stress

The static pyroelectric coefficient of PZT-5H thin slice was measured. The effects of temperatures, temperature change rates and pulse stress on the discharge characteristics of PZT under different electrical boundary conditions (open circuit and short circuit) were investigated by an improved split Hopkinson pressure bar system; The effects of temperature change rate and the pulse stress on dynamic piezoelectric coefficient and discharge characteristics of PZT were analyzed. The results show that the static pyroelectric coefficient of the piezoelectric ceramics is 4.16 × 10−8 C/cm2·°C. The piezoelectric voltage constant g33(σ, ∂ΔT), piezoelectric strain constant d33(σ, ∂ΔT), elastic compliance coefficient S and electromechanical coupling coefficient k were obtained by experiments at the given temperature and different temperature change rates.

Fabrication of amino and fluorine functionalized graphene-based polymer composites to enhance the electromechanical conversion efficiency of TENGs for energy-harvesting applications

The two main factors hindering the practical utilization of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are low power density and high internal impedance. To address this issue, TENGs with high electromechanical conversion efficiency must be developed. Several techniques have been investigated to improve the TENGs output performance, including surface modifications (physical or chemical) and embedded charge-trap nanomaterials (dielectric or conductive). Herein, we introduce the novel amino-functionalized reduced graphene oxide (AFGO) and graphite-fluorinated polymer (FG) pillars to enhance the tribo-positivity and tribo-negativity of polyurethane (PU) and Ecoflex (EC), respectively. The surface positive-potential of PU is increased almost 2.2 times (from 201 V to 480 V) and negative-potential of Ecoflex is increased 2.1 times (from −848 V to −1813 V) with incorporating AFGO and FG pillars. Functionalized graphene and graphite-based pillars synergistically enhance surface charges (owing to the presence of –NH2 and -F terminating groups) and minimize triboelectric loss (owing to their conductive nature). The effects of the AFGO and FG contents on the electrical performance were studied systematically. The optimized PUAFGO2/EC15FG-TENG exhibited the maximum electrical output performance with an open-circuit potential of 434 V, a short-circuit current of 11. 2 µA, a power density of 1.18 Wm−2 at a load of 40 MΩ, and a charge density of 17.5 µCm−2. The PUAFGO2/EC15FG-TENG showed a mechanical conversion efficiency of 95% and successfully operated 33 LEDs and a stopwatch. Owing to this effectivity, even under low pressures, with a high sensitivity of 9.5 VPa−1 and high mechanical stability, the proposed TENG device could be used as a biomechanical energy harvester in the near future.

Flexible three-dimensional interconnected PZT skeleton based piezoelectric nanogenerator for energy harvesting

Flexible piezoelectric nanogenerator (PENG) has attracted extensive attention due to the capability of energy collection and charging low-power microelectronic devices. Herein, PZT ceramic skeleton with three-dimensional (3D) interconnected network structure was fabricated via freeze casting technique. PZT/PDMS composites were prepared by introducing PDMS to the aligned pores of both green and sintered PZT skeletons. This special network structure enabled stress not to be buffered by PDMS. PENG composed of sintered PZT skeleton exhibited distinctly superior electrical output performance to that of the green one due to the effective stress transfer resulting from the direct contact between PZT particles. The maximum output voltage and output current of PENG based on 40 vol% sintered-PZT/PDMS composite reached 174 V and 28.2 μA, which were 19 V and 4.7 μA higher than those of green-PZT/PDMS composite, respectively. Thereby, this work provided a referable thought for the further development of PENG in the prospective market.

Vascular bundle-inspired MXene ion-conducting microchannels enabled tough ionic hydrogels with high-sensitivity sensing and high-efficiency mechanical-electric conversion

High-sensitivity hydrogel-based sensors with self-powered functions are becoming more and more important in wearable electronics fields. However, traditional hydrogels cannot satisfy the application requirements for high-performance self-powered wearable sensors due to their low conductivity, poor sensitivity, and limited electric output performance. Inspired by the transport effect of vascular bundles in trees on inorganic salts, unique ion-conducting microchannels are assembled by MXene nanosheets as conductive materials, cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) as cross-linking supports, and NH4HCO3 as an inducer, which exhibits high mechanical properties, excellent conductivity, and high-sensitivity sensing. The MXene microchannels contribute to the directional transport of free ions in the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel with poly(diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) as ion source, thus endowing the MXene-CNF-PDADMAC-PVA (MCPP) hydrogel with high-sensitivity sensing and high-efficiency mechanical-electric conversion performance. The MCPP hydrogel-based sensor possesses a low detection limit (200 mg) and fast response time (120 ms). The MCPP hydrogel-based triboelectric nanogenerator can generate a VOC of 159.1 V, ISC of 24.5 µA, and QSC of 32.5 nC, and the MCPP hydrogel-based piezoelectric nanogenerator can output a voltage of 1134.3 mV. Thanks to the excellent self-powered sensing performance, a self-powered sensing indicator and tiny pressure detector based on the hydrogel are developed to realize the visual sensing in an uncomfortable state of the elderly without an external power supply and detect the heartbeat and fluttering pulse. Therefore, this ionic hydrogel with high-sensitivity sensing and high-efficiency mechanical-electric conversion performance is very promising for applications in next-generation advanced wearable electronics.

A versatile nanofibrous facemask filter for triboelectric nanogenerator-based self-powered respiratory monitoring with efficient filtration and excellent antibacterial capacities

Respiration, as a basic human physiological process, can be used as a vital indicator for early disease diagnosis. Moreover, the prevention of respiratory diseases caused by particulate matter and bacteria is of great importance. Herein, a smart face mask with self-powered real-time respiratory monitoring, efficient filtration and excellent antibacterial activity was fabricated by electrospinning. By applying polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/ε-poly (L-lysine)(ε-PL) and poly (ε-caprolactone)(PCL)/gelatin nanofibrous membranes as contact electrification pairs, the triboelectric nanogenerator assembled into a face mask could detect different breathing frequencies and intensities without external power supply. The electrical output performance was increased with the increment of PVDF concentration and the introduction of gelatin. Efficient filtration of particulate matter was achieved under a low pressure drop. Furthermore, PVDF/ε-PL nanofibrous membrane also exhibited excellent antibacterial activity, thus reducing the risk of respiratory infection. The prepared smart face mask is hopeful for personal healthcare management and prevention of respiratory diseases.

A triboelectric vibration sensor for detecting loose bolts in automobile

ABSTRACT Recently, the application of flexible sensors in mechanical equipment has attracted widespread attention. However, the design of vibration sensor materials and structures for complex mechanical environments still faces challenges. Hence, we proposed an annular structure CCTO/PDMS-based triboelectric nanogenerator (CP-TENG) as self-powered triboelectric automotive bolt tightness sensor. Due to the high dielectric properties of CCTO/PDMS film, the CP-TENG device can obtain high electrical output performance to achieve high sensitivity sensing. Through the annular structure design, CP-TENG devices can be integrated into bolt fittings with good structural compatibility. The output voltage and current of CP-TENG can monitor the different accelerations borne by the bolts from 9 to 60 m/s2. Moreover, by installing on the gasket, the CP-TENG device can also monitor bolt looseness to achieve early warning of the safety status of automotive components. This research can promote the development of self-powered sensor in the field of automotive bolt vibration monitoring.

Research on an Optimized Quarter-Wavelength Resonator-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Efficient Low-Frequency Acoustic Energy Harvesting.

Sound wave is an extensively existing mechanical wave, especially in marine and industrial plants where low-frequency acoustic waves are ubiquitous. The effective collection and utilization of sound waves provide a fresh new approach to supply power for the distributed nodes of the rapidly developing Internet of Things technology. In this paper, a novel acoustic triboelectric nanogenerator (QWR-TENG) was proposed for efficient low-frequency acoustic energy harvesting. QWR-TENG consisted of a quarter-wavelength resonant tube, a uniformly perforated aluminum film, an FEP membrane, and a conductive carbon nanotube coating. Simulation and experimental studies showed that QWR-TENG has two resonance peaks in the low-frequency range, which effectively extends the response bandwidth of acoustic-electrical conversion. The structural optimized QWR-TENG has excellent electrical output performance, and the maximum output voltage, short-circuit current and transferred charge are 255 V, 67 μA, and 153 nC, respectively, under the acoustic frequency of 90 Hz and sound pressure level of 100 dB. On this basis, a conical energy concentrator was introduced to the entrance of the acoustic tube, and a composite quarter-wavelength resonator-based triboelectric nanogenerator (CQWR-TENG) was designed to further enhance the electrical output. Results showed that the maximum output power and the power density per unit pressure of CQWR-TENG reached 13.47 mW and 2.27 WPa-1m-2, respectively. Application demonstrations indicated that QWR/CQWR-TENG has good capacitor charging performance and is expected to realize power supply for distributed sensor nodes and other small electrical devices.

Cell activity manipulation through optimizing piezoelectricity and polarization of diphenylalanine peptide nanotube-based nanocomposite

Here we propose a material design for nanocomposites of self-assembled diphenylalanine (FF) nanotubes with bioresorbable polymer matrices to achieve a flexible and mechanically durable bio-piezoelectric nanogenerator (bio-PENG). The piezoelectric property of the nanocomposite membranes demonstrates a normal-like distribution in accordance with Young’s modulus of the polymer matrices. Attributed to the high conformability between polyvinyl alcohol (PLA) and FF nanotubes, the PLA-based nanocomposite bio-PENG exhibits high electrical output performance, reaching an output voltage of 2.8 V and power density of 2.6 μW cm−2. Moreover, the bio-PENG shows stable energy-generating performance for over 1000 operating cycles. Benefiting from the high piezoelectric property, the nanocomposite can manipulate cell activities including alignment and proliferation. The results of the simulation using the finite element method (FEM) confirm that the nanocomposite can generate piezoelectricity through mechanical strain caused by free migration of cells. In vitro demonstration shows that cell migration-induced piezoelectricity allows for the manipulation of cell alignment and proliferation. Thus, our material design of FF nanotube-based nanocomposites presents a promising option for bioresorbable energy harvesters that will be widely available in biomedical applications.