Separation and Quantum Tunneling of Photo-generated Carriers Using a Tribo-Induced Field

Abstract

Boosting the photovoltaic power output is the key to large-scale implementation of solar cell technologies for renewable energy applications. Traditional solar energy harvesting is limited by the costly fabrication of p-n junctions, the duration of sunlight irradiation, and theoretical output limit. In this work, Liu et al. demonstrate that the photovoltaic power output can be dramatically enhanced by mechanical friction between a metal and a semiconductor, leading to the development of a new power generation approach called tribo-photovoltaic generator. It enables highly efficient solar-mechanical energy co-harvesting in the daytime as well as mechanical energy at night. The tribo-photovoltaic effect may be utilized for co-harvesting of solar and mechanical energy in various scenarios such as ocean tidal energy harvesters, wind turbines, and aerospace energy collectors.

Multieffect Coupled Nanogenerators

“…In addition, Zhang and Yang developed the feasibility of InP bulks for a thermo-photovoltaic NG [ 16 ]. Very recently, Liu et al demonstrated Si wafers as suitable tribophotovoltaic materials [ 41 ].…”

“…In recent years, direct-current TENGs have attracted intense interest since it provides a novel direction for coscavenging of light and mechanical energies. Liu et al fabricated a tribo-photovoltaic NG with stainless steel/Si/Al configuration [ 41 ]. When friction and irradiation are simultaneously applied, tribo-tunneling current is created and flows towards the Al side.…”

“…The maximum platform voltage of 46 V can be obtained when it acts as a PyENG+PVC+TPiENG. Voltage signals of a stainless steel/Si/Al tribo-photovoltaic NG have been investigated by Liu et al [ 41 ]. The output voltage induced by tribo-tunneling transport is about 0.2 V, which can be increased to 0.35 V by illuminating the sliding contact region.…”

Tribovoltaic Effect on Metal–Semiconductor Interface for Direct‐Current Low‐Impedance Triboelectric Nanogenerators

“…However, conventional TENGs usually use organic polymer insulation materials, and the charges generated by friction tends to accumulate on the surface of the material, resulting in an alternating output . Recently, semiconductor materials began to attract researchers' interest, and a series of work has made great progress: the tribotunneling nanogenerator based on sliding metal–insulator–semiconductor (MIS) structure, the moving Schottky diode based on metal–semiconductor (MS) structure, the triboelectric cell based on PN junction structure, and other moving heterojunction nanogenerator . Thundat and Liu et al realized an ultrahigh current density MIS nanogenerator due to quantum mechanical tunneling of the ultrathin natural oxide layer .…”

Tunable Dynamic Black Phosphorus/Insulator/Si Heterojunction Direct-Current Generator Based on the Hot Electron Transport

“…Recently, we have designed the creative systematic design of dynamic Schottky diodes, in which the sliding of metals over semiconductors can produce a direct-current electricity output [19][20][21]. Some similar phenomena based on semiconductors have also been dedicated to converting mechanical energy into electricity, which they attribute to the triboelectricity effect [22][23][24][25][26]. In particular, we have proposed the physical picture of the dynamic Schottky diode based on the rebounding effect under the ultrahigh built-in electric field at the interface, which can break the balance between the drift current and diffusion current and generate an electrical output [19,20].…”