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Utilizing triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) for simultaneous mechanical energy harvesting and sensing applications is a crucial and challenging endeavor that can improve TENG-based self-powered sensing systems. However, this issue remains relatively underexplored and thus, it is the primary focus here. We propose a simple and generalizable external circuitry achieving simultaneous energy storage and sensing from the TENGs. Commonly available polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) triboelectric film is dielectrically modified by loading synthesized sodium tantalate filler particles with high dielectricity. The fabricated films and aluminum tape are utilized as negative and positive triboelectric films. The electrical performance of the TENG operated in contact-separation mode is optimized based on the filler concentration in the PDMS film and the maximum electrical output of ∼ 195 V, ∼ 6.27 µA, and ∼ 44 µC/m2 is observed. Completely analyzed TENG with highly efficient and stable electrical output (for more than 10,000 operational cycles) is utilized for further experiments. Various fundamental voltage divider (VD) (capacitive, resistive, and inductive) electrical circuits are fabricated and their successful utilization for dividing the electrical output from the TENG is demonstrated. After a comprehensive analysis of the compatibility between the VD and TENG, it is determined that inductive and resistive VDs are the optimal choice. Owing to its simplicity, the resistive VD is further utilized to construct real-time vehicle speed sensing and approaching direction-finding applications. The proposed simple and generalized state-of-the-art process for simultaneous energy storage and sensing through the TENG could be revolutionary, potentially expanding its applicative scope significantly. [Display omitted] • A concurrent energy storage and sensing system was developed to harness the full potential of TENG. • A simple but effective voltage divider electronic circuitry was proposed to divide voltage from the TENG. • Dielectrically modified triboelectric film was obtained to achieve ∼ 195 V, ∼ 6.27 µA, and ∼ 44 µC/m2 from the TENG. • The TENG was used for vehicle speed detection and wrong direction identification to enhance road safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the increasing energy demands and probable utilization of mechanical energy harvesters, current research is highly focused on enhancing their performance/applicability in everyday life. Herein, we proposed a box-type hybrid nanogenerator (BT-HNG) consisting of acetone-dissolved microarchitectured strontium (Sr) doped silver niobate (ASNb)/ecoflex composite film as a highly efficient mechanical energy harvester. The simple and unique microarchitectured (MA) master mold was fabricated by immersing a plastic petri dish inside the acetone which was further utilized to obtain MA-composite films. The ASNb microparticles (MPs) with varying the Sr doping concentration were synthesized and further loaded inside the ecoflex film to enhance its dielectric properties. The MA-ASNb/ecoflex composite films were utilized as a negative triboelectric material and copper as a positive triboelectric material for the fabrication of HNG operating in a contact-separation mode. The ASNb filler concentration inside the ecoflex film was optimized in the aspect of Sr doping and filler concentrations to obtain the highest electricity from respective HNG. The highly efficient and stable electrical output produced by the HNG was further utilized to power various small-scale electronics. The BT-HNG producing unique direct current electrical output was developed by integrating five similar HNGs in it. The enhancement in the electrical output with successive addition of each HNG was thoroughly investigated. The proposed BT-HNG was successfully demonstrated as a real-time sensor that can be utilized to turn on the lamps situated at stairs, corridors, etc. in human presence. The enclosed BT-HNG along with a heavy weighing block was demonstrated to harvest vibrational/linear movements into electricity. [Display omitted] • Box-type hybrid nanogenerator (BT-HNG) is proposed to harvest vibrational/linear mechanical energies into electrical output. • Sr-doped AgNbO 3 particles were utilized as a filler to enhance the electrical performance of HNG. • Acetone-dissolved microarchitectured (MA) plastic petri dish mold was utilized to fabricate MA-composite films. • The BT-HNG was demonstrated as a sensor to control light-emitting diode lamps in ON/OFF conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical energy harvesting from ambient environment has been considered one of the promising technologies for developing autonomous self-powering units, sensors, and various other electronic applications. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are one of the recent technologies gaining tremendous interest because of their ability to efficiently harvest ambient energy and convert it into electricity. The phenomenon of the triboelectrification effect in TENGs is not fully understood, along with extracting a maximum electrical output. Herein, we studied the electrification process between two triboelectric films by modulating their charge polarity. The charge polarity in the triboelectric film was modulated without any surface chemical functionalization. A TENG was fabricated to experimentally study the electrification process. Initially, the accepting/donating electrons of a triboelectric film were modulated using fluorine and oxygen atoms contained in polymers and operated against an oppositely charged triboelectric film. After optimizing the electrical output and conducting various stability investigations, the electrical output from the TENG was enhanced. Ultra-low power management integrated circuit (PMIC) implemented in a 180 nm high-voltage BCD (Bipolar CMOS DMOS) process was used. While matching the effective impedance of the TENGs, the PMIC achieves a total energy transfer efficiency of 81.5% utilizing a relatively low input power of 6.5 µW, showing state-of-the-art performance. [Display omitted] • The triboelectrification effect in TENGs is explored, extracting a maximum electrical output. • The fundamentals of electrification are studied using an atomic-scale electron-cloud-potential-well model. • The charge polarity is modulated in the triboelectric film without any surface chemical functionalization. • The PMIC achieves a total energy transfer efficiency of 81.5% while matching the impedance of TENGs. • Multiple TENGs are fabricated and combined with a micro-controlling unit for IoT applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are gaining tremendous interest due to their versatile applications and energy harvesting ability. Besides, TENG would be useful for boimedical applications if the triboelectric materials used in the nanogenerator fabrication are non-toxic, biodegradable, and biocompatible. Herein, biocompatible triboelectric fibrous films were prepared via an electrospinning technique. The prepared fibrous tribofilms were employed to fabricate a triboelectric energy harvester and sensor (TEHS). A biocompatible study conducted on the electrospun positive and negative triboelectric films and the substrate reveals that the films are non-toxic and biocompatible. The effect of electrical output performance with respect to various bio-triboelectric materials was systematically studied and optimized. The TEHS, which is lightweight, flexible, scalable, and robust, has a low fabrication processing cost and can be used under various operational conditions. The proposed device had a very quick response time of 1.7 ms, creating a competitive advantage in healthcare monitoring. Multiple TEHS devices were fabricated to be integrated with the healthcare monitoring system. Finally, the proposed TEHS was used to harvest various mechanical energies and power portable electronics. Additionally, the TEHS can be attached to various health monitoring locations to monitor the patient's physical movement. [Display omitted] • Biocompatible triboelectric fibrous films were prepared for a triboelectric energy harvester and sensor (THES). • The fabricated triboelectric films were fully biocompatible and biodegradable. • The proposed THES was used as a sensor as well as a harvester to power portable electronics. • The THES exhibited a fast response time of 1.7 ms. • Multiple THES was fabricated and integrated with a microcontroller for various biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the world of automotive technologies, a tremendous amount of small-scale rotational energy is wasted and not being converted into a usable energy form. A rotatory triboelectric nanogenerator can be a fortune technology to harvest such waste mechanical energy and convert it into electricity. In this regard, we developed a fully three-dimensional (3D) printed bidirectional rotatory hybrid nanogenerator (BR-HNG) to convert waste rotational energy into electricity, via a contact and separation mode mechanism. Initially, a single HNG was fabricated with porous sodium niobate and polydimethylsiloxane polymer (i.e., NaNbO 3 /PDMS) composite film, which was operated vertically against the aluminum to optimize a high and stable electrical output. After the robust and stability test of the single HNG, multiple HNGs were integrated into a 3D printed bidirectional rotatory frame to harvest the rotational energy. It was observed that the BR-HNG had a stable and high electrical direct current voltage of 37.5 V. Furthermore, the BR-HNG was attached to a bicycle to harvest the rotational energy while bicycling in everyday human life and power up various portable electronics. [Display omitted] • 3D printed BR-HNG can harvest various rotational mechanical energies. • The energy harvesting by the BR-HNG is independent of the rotational direction. • NaNbO 3 /PDMS-based HNG achieved higher conversion efficiency compared to bare PDMS-based TENG. • The fabricated BR-HNG produces ~ 37 V of DC voltage. • The BR-HNG was combined with bicycles used in everyday life to harvest the rotational energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ever-increasing demand for energy is driving efforts to develop environmentally sustainable technologies that can harvest and store energy. Energy-harvesting technologies that use renewable energy sources are preferable when designing sustainable and self-charging electronic devices. Large quantities of mechanical energy are available in typical homes. Fabricating a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) to harvest such energy could provide a renewable source of power for a variety of devices. However, practical TENGs have proven elusive due to a scarcity of triboelectric materials. Here, we describe the utilization of plastic and electronic waste commonly available in homes to fabricate a smart-home-applicable TENG (SHA-TENG). Because electrical performance depends on the triboelectric series, device structure is examined comprehensively. Voltage, current, charge density, and power density values of ~300 V, ~15 µA, ~70 µC/m2, and ~54 W/m2 are achievable, respectively. The resulting lightweight SHA-TENG is a smart-home fabricable device that can withstand in a harsh environment. Furthermore, the TENG can not only be employed to harvest mechanical energy and directly applied to power portable electronics, but it can also be used in self-charging energy-storage systems and motion/anti-thief sensors, as demonstrated by combing it with a power management circuit to create a self-charging lithium-ion battery. A circuit that detects spikes in voltage from the SHA-TENG in various parts of the home can serve as a smart-home motion sensor. When placed in different regions of the home, the SHA-TENG can sense motion, harvest mechanical energy involved in everyday human activities, and power various portable electronic devices. ga1 • Proposed SHA-TENG is a smart-home fabricable device which can withstand a harsh environment. • Dielectric film thickness-dependent electrical performance was studied theoretically and experimentally. • A power management circuit was combined with SHA-TENG to create a self-charging lithium-ion battery. • A circuit that detects spikes in voltage, combined with the SHA-TENG, serves as a smart-home motion sensor. • The SHA-TENG can sense motion, harvest mechanical energy available in home, and power various portable electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harvesting energy from renewable energy resources is an emerging research area to fulfil the globally rising energy demand owing to the enormous usage of various portable electronic systems. Mechanical energy is one of them and available abundantly in everyday human life such as ocean wave, human motion, raindrop fall, rotation energy, etc. Herein, the ferroelectric lithium niobate (LiNbO 3) microparticles are prepared by a solid-state reaction technique and further utilized for the fabrication of nanogenerator to efficiently harvest these mechanical energies. Ferroelectric materials exhibit much higher piezoelectric coefficients and a strong electric dipole movement, thus resulting in higher electrical performance of corresponding nanogenerators. Therefore, the as-prepared LiNbO 3 is used to comparatively study the electrical performance of piezoelectric, triboelectric, and hybrid nanogenerators, respectively. In this regards, a composite layer is developed by incorporating the LiNbO 3 into the triboelectric polymer (i.e., polydimethylsiloxane) to develop distinct types of nanogenerators and their electrical output performance is examined. Consequently, the hybrid nanogenerator (HNG) exhibits relatively higher performance as compared to the others, thanks to synergetic piezoelectric and triboelectric effects. Furthermore, the concentration of LiNbO 3 added into the composite is further optimized to realize the highest electrical performance of HNG and it also exhibits good electrical stability and mechanical durability. Eventually, practical applications of the power generated by the HNG are further demonstrated to operate portable electronics. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, perovskites are attracting great attention in the field of energy harvesting through triboelectric nanogenerators as a promising technology owing to their easy synthesis process, ferroelectric/dielectric nature, and low toxicity. Herein, we proposed the vanadium-doped sodium niobate (NaNbO 3) (V–NaNbO; VNNb)/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite film-based hybrid nanogenerators (HNGs) for mechanical/biomechanical energy harvesting. Initially, the perovskite NNb and VNNb microparticles (MPs) were synthesized and mixed inside PDMS to form a negative triboelectric film. The aluminum film was used as a positive triboelectric material and to support the waste-to-wealth concept, discarded plastic was used as a substrate material. Various HNGs were assembled and operated in a contact-separation mode and a comparative study of variation in electrical output depending on the type/amount of filler particles was thoroughly investigated. The VNNb/PDMS-based HNG produced an enhanced electrical output of ∼200 V, ∼5.7 μA, 4.8 W/m2 as compared to the bare PDMS- and NNb/PDMS-based HNGs. The fabricated HNG was robust and generated a highly stable electrical output that was further utilized to charge capacitors and power small electronics. Moreover, owing to the flexible nature and highly efficient electrical output of the HNG, it was successfully demonstrated as a biomechanical energy harvester. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combining the piezoelectric and triboelectric effects into a single device called hybrid nanogenerator (HNG) is a key discovery to overcome the drawback of low electrical output piezo/triboelectric nanogenerators. This work elaborates detailed electrical performance investigation on dopamine treated tin oxide (DA@SnO 2) nanoparticles (NPs) impregnated polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)-based HNG. The mixing of SnO 2 NPs inside the PVDF matrix enhances the β phase of the composite film and the electrical performance of the respective HNG. The coating of DA on SnO 2 NPs works as a binder between SnO 2 NPs and PVDF polymer by removing the defects in the SnO 2 /PVDF composite film. Also, the presence of carbon in DA increases electron generation inside the composite film, which further enhances the electrical output of HNG. With this effect, the fabricated DA@SnO 2 /PVDF-based HNG produced maximum electrical outputs of 62 V, 1.55 μA, and 17.9 μC/m2 which were considerably higher than those of the SnO 2 /PVDF-based HNG. Finally, the DA@SnO 2 /PVDF-based HNG was tested for different operational parameters and used to charge commercially available capacitors and power up small-scale electronics. The proposed HNG provides an excellent energy harvesting capability and can be employed to harvest energy from abundantly available mechanical movements. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]