Small-Scale Energy Harvesting from Environment by Triboelectric Nanogenerators

Abstract

The increasing needs to power trillions of sensors and devices for the Internet of Things require effective technology to harvest small-scale energy from renewable natural resources. As a new energy technology, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) can harvest ambient mechanical energy and convert it into electricity for powering small electronic devices continuously. In this chapter, the fundamental working mechanism and fundamental modes of a TENG will be presented. It can harvest all kinds of mechanical energy, especially at low frequencies, such as human motion, walking, vibration, mechanical triggering, rotating tire, wind, moving automobile, flowing water, rain drops, ocean waves, and so on. Such variety of energy harvesting methods promises TENG as a new approach for small-scale energy harvesting.

Future prospects and recent developments of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric polymer; fabrication methods, structure, and electro-mechanical properties

“…Semicrystalline piezopolymers include polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). 6 Crystallinity is based on the polymer's molecular structure and is determined by the ratio of semicrystalline to amorphous regions, which changes with fabrication methods and thermal history. Molecular dipoles are primarily responsible for the piezoelectric effect.…”