A highly miniaturized freestanding kinetic-impact-based non-resonant hybridized electromagnetic-triboelectric nanogenerator for human induced vibrations harvesting

• Published in: Applied energy Vol. 279; p. 115799
• Main Authors: Toyabur Rahman, M., Sohel Rana, SM, Salauddin, Md, Maharjan, Pukar, Bhatta, Trilochan, Kim, Hyunsik, Cho, Hyunok, Park, Jae Yeong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2020
• Subjects: Human-motion-induced vibrations; Hybrid nanogenerator; Low-frequency vibrations; Self-powered electronics; Wearable devices; Hybrid nanogenerator; Self-powered electronics; Wearable devices; Human-motion-induced vibrations; Low-frequency vibrations
• ISSN: 0306-2619; 1872-9118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115799

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•A miniaturized hybridized nanogenerator for harvesting human-induced vibrations.•Non-resonant system with nonlinearity for high outputs at low-frequency vibrations.•Nanowire and micro-nano hierarchical structured TENG for increasing performance.•A customized power management circuit for practical use of hybridized nanogenerator.•Demonstration of the harvester as a portable power source for modern electronics.
Energy harvesting from human motion can be considered a promising and sustainable energy source for powering portable electronics and sensors. Herein, a highly miniaturized freestanding kinetic-impact-based hybridized nanogenerator (MFKI-HNG) is presented to harvest human-induced vibrations effectively. The MFKI-HNG was designed to simultaneously generate hybridized outputs under the same mechanical load through a rational integration of an electromagnetic generator (EMG) and a freestanding-mode triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). A non-resonant mechanical system with nonlinearity significantly improved the EMG's output performance in the low-frequency vibration range (≤5 Hz). Subsequently, nanowire and micro-nano hierarchical structures developed on tribo-materials further enhanced the output performance of the TENG. After optimizing via theoretical modeling and simulations, the as-fabricated MFKI-HNG was tested using both shaker and human motions. The MFKI-HNG generated maximum output powers of 102.29 mW across the optimum resistances, with a corresponding normalized power density of 3.67 mW cm−3 g−2 at 5 Hz under 10 ms−2 (1 g = 9.8 ms−2). During diverse activities, the MFKI-HNG could harvest a significant amount of energy in different body-worn positions and drive thermo-hygrometers and 380 commercial light-emitting diodes simultaneously. Using a customized power management circuit, the MFKI-HNG can act as a portable power source for modern electronics, such as smartphones and smartwatches. A wireless temperature sensor has successfully run continuously for more than 70 s with the MFKI-HNG from just 6 s of excitations. This study shows the immense potential of harvesting human-induced vibrations via a hybridized nanogenerator for developing a feasible self-powered system for portable/wearable electronics and wireless healthcare monitoring systems.