Inductor‐Free Wireless Energy Delivery via Maxwell's Displacement Current from an Electrodeless Triboelectric Nanogenerator

Abstract

Wireless power delivery has been a dream technology for applications in medical science, security, radio frequency identification (RFID), and the internet of things, and is usually based on induction coils and/or antenna. Here, a new approach is demonstrated for wireless power delivery by using the Maxwell's displacement current generated by an electrodeless triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) that directly harvests ambient mechanical energy. A rotary electrodeless TENG is fabricated using the contact and sliding mode with a segmented structure. Due to the leakage of electric field between the segments during relative rotation, the generated Maxwell's displacement current in free space is collected by metal collectors. At a gap distance of 3 cm, the output wireless current density and voltage can reach 7 µA cm and 65 V, respectively. A larger rotary electrodeless TENG and flexible wearable electrodeless TENG are demonstrated to power light-emitting diodes (LEDs) through wireless energy delivery. This innovative discovery opens a new avenue for noncontact, wireless energy transmission for applications in portable and wearable electronics.

Self‐Healing, Flexible, and Tailorable Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Self‐Powered Sensors based on Thermal Effect of Infrared Radiation

“…Currently, a number of polymers have been used and play critical roles as friction and supporting materials in TENGs. [ 14–16 ] However, unpredicted damage or performance loss of TENG devices could be induced by the interface friction between different materials and frequent mechanical deformation such as device bending, compressing, stretching, and twisting. Self‐healing polymer as novel materials have presented a preferred strategy to solve above problems.…”

Wireless Power Transmission Enabled by a Triboelectric Nanogenerator via a Magnetic Interaction

“…Figure b (i → ii → iii → iv) shows the typical working mechanism of the TENG. An integrated charge‐transfer period is formed from separation to contact to recovery by coupling of triboelectrification and electrostatic induction . The tribo charges can be efficiently transferred between two Al electrodes when a vibration is applied on the TENG, which is in accord with the potential distribution simulated via COMSOL.…”

Advances in the development of power supplies for the Internet of Everything

“…Furthermore, it greatly enriches the design and manufacture of miniature IoE devices and improves the durability of the contact‐free devices . Generally, there are three modes of wireless charging technology: electromagnetic induction, magnetic resonance, and radio wave . Due to the power‐hungry property of wireless communication and the varieties of communication requirements (eg, deployment locations, longevity constraints, traffic patterns), design and fabricating an appropriate wireless technology is vital for the power supply systems of the IoE .…”

“…23 Generally, there are three modes of wireless charging technology: electromagnetic induction, magnetic resonance, and radio wave. 24 Due to the power-hungry property of wireless communication and the varieties of communication requirements (eg, deployment locations, longevity constraints, traffic patterns), design and fabricating an appropriate wireless technology is vital for the power supply systems of the IoE. 25 Moreover, with the continued miniaturization of devices for IoE applications, power sources with large size, bulky structure and complex wired connections cannot fulfill their utilization requirements.…”