Thermoacoustically driven liquid-metal-based triboelectric nanogenerator: A thermal power generator without solid moving parts

• Published in: Applied physics letters Vol. 118; no. 11
• Main Authors: Zhu, Shunmin, Yu, Guoyao, Tang, Wei, Hu, Jianying, Luo, Ercang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melville American Institute of Physics 15-03-2021
• Subjects: Applied physics; Casting; Heat engines; Liquid metals; Nanogenerators; Open circuit voltage; Standing waves; Thermoacoustic heat engines; Thermoacoustics; Thermoelectricity; Waste heat recovery
• ISSN: 0003-6951; 1077-3118
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0041415

Liquid metal has exhibited great potential in escalating power density in both triboelectric nanogenerator and thermoacoustic systems. An innovative endeavor of coupling these two systems through liquid metal enables a thermal power generator without solid moving parts and shows prospects in the recovery of waste heat. In this configuration, liquid metal functions as both triboelectric and resonant stuff. Based on the understanding, an experimental setup involving a standing-wave thermoacoustic heat engine and a liquid metal-based triboelectric nanogenerator is fabricated to validate the concept. So far, the highest open-circuit voltage amplitude of 15 V has been achieved, outweighing our previous work by 50%. Allowing for the reduction in size, the preliminary results well demonstrate the viability of future applications.