Triboelectric Nanogenerators

Abstract

Establishing a smart sensing system is desirable but challenging as the conventional devices require an external battery or power grid which cruelly limits its applications, especially in remote areas or at the condition of power supply with difficulty. Here, we report a smart self-powered sensing network based on a hybrid nanogenerator (NG) that can harvest wind energy and solar energy simultaneously or individually to serve as a sustainable power source. A transparent flag-like triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) plays a core role with both the output voltage and current positively proportional to the wind speed and the number of integrated units. By subtly designing, the bottom solar cell can absorb sunshine insusceptibly. The hybrid NG can not only be used as an active wind speed detection, but also be employed to construct a self-powered wireless temperature sensing system, further achieving multifunctional sensing. This work promotes the development of TENG-based renewable energy harvesting and puts forward the smart sensing network node that realizes multifunctional monitoring by scavenging environmental energy.