Multi-Effects Coupled Nanogenerators for Simultaneously Harvesting Solar, Thermal, and Mechanical Energies

As a result of the widespread use of small-scale and low-power electronic devices, the demand for micro-energy sources has increased, in particular the potential to harvest the wide variety of energy sources present in their surrounding environment. In this paper, a novel coupled nanogenerator that can realize energy harvesting for multiple energy sources is reported on. Based on the unique electrical properties of ferroelectric Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 (BNT) materials, it is possible to combine a photovoltaic cell, pyroelectric nanogenerator, and triboelectric-piezoelectric nanogenerator in a single element to harvest light, heat, and mechanical energy simultaneously. To evaluate the effectiveness of coupling for different materials, a Yang coupling factor (k(C,Q)) is defined in terms of transferred charge, where BNT has the largest k(C,Q) of 1.29 during heating, indicating that BNT has the best coupling enhancement compared to common ferroelectric materials. This new criterion and novel device structure therefore provide a new basis for the future development of coupled nanogenerators which are capable of harvesting multiple sources of energy.

Automated summary

The demand for micro-energy sources has increased due to the widespread use of small-scale and low-power electronic devices. This paper presents a novel coupled nanogenerator that can harvest multiple energy sources simultaneously. By utilizing the unique electrical properties of ferroelectric material Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 (BNT), a single element combining photovoltaic, pyroelectric, and triboelectric-piezoelectric nanogenerators can harvest light, heat, and mechanical energy. The evaluation of the coupling effectiveness of different materials shows that BNT has the best coupling enhancement compared to common ferroelectric materials, indicating its potential for future development of coupled nanogenerators capable of harvesting multiple sources of energy.