Energy harvesting for self-powered nanosystems

In this article, an introduction is presented about the energy harvesting technologies that have potential for powering nanosystems. Our discussion mainly focuses on the approaches other than the well-known solar cell and thermoelectrics. We mainly introduce the piezoelectric nanogenerators developed using aligned ZnO nanowire arrays. This is a potential technology for converting mechanical movement energy (such as body movement, muscle stretching, blood pressure), vibration energy (such as acoustic/ultrasonic wave), and hydraulic energy (such as fl ow of body fl uid, blood fl ow, contraction of blood vessel, dynamic fl uid in nature) into electric energy for self-powered nanosystems.     

Multistage SrBaTiO3/PDMS Composite Film-Based Hybrid Nanogenerator for Efficient Floor Energy Harvesting Applications

Triboelectric nanogenerators are an emerging energy-scavenging technology that can harvest kinetic energy from various mechanical moments into electricity. The energy generated while humans walk is the most commonly available biomechanical energy. Herein, a multistage consecutively-connected hybrid nanogenerator (HNG) is fabricated and combined with a flooring system (MCHCFS) to efficiently harvest mechanical energy while humans walk. Initially, the electrical output performance of the HNG is optimized by fabricating a prototype device using various strontium-doped barium titanate (Ba_1-xSr_xTiO₃, BST) microparticles loaded polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite films. The BST/PDMS composite film acts as a negative triboelectric layer that operates against aluminum. Single HNG operated in contact-separation mode could generate an electrical output of ≈280 V, ≈8.5 µA, and ≈90 µC m⁻². The stability and robustness of the fabricated HNG are confirmed and eight similar HNGs are assembled in a 3D-printed MCHCFS. The MCHCFS is specifically designed to distribute applied force on the single HNG to four nearby HNGs. The MCHCFS can be implemented in real-life floors with an enlarged surface area to harvest energy generated while humans walk into direct current electrical output. The MCHCFS is demonstrated as a touch sensor that can be utilized in sustainable path lighting to save enormous electricity waste.     

Energy Efficient Resource Allocation Approach for Renewable Energy Powered Heterogeneous Cellular Networks

In this paper, maximizing energy efficiency (EE) through radio resource allocation for renewable energy powered heterogeneous cellular networks (HetNet) with energy sharing, is investigated. Our goal is to maximize the network EE, conquer the instability of renewable energy sources and guarantee the fairness of users during allocating resources. We define the objective function as a sum weighted EE of all links in the HetNet. We formulate the resource allocation problem in terms of subcarrier assignment, power allocation and energy sharing, as a mixed combinatorial and non-convex optimization problem. We propose an energy efficient resource allocation scheme, including a centralized resource allocation algorithm for iterative subcarrier allocation and power allocation in which the power allocation problem is solved by analytically solving the Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) conditions of the problem and a water-filling problem thereafter and a low-complexity distributed resource allocation algorithm based on reinforcement learning (RL). Our numerical results show that both centralized and distributed algorithms converge with a few times of iterations. The numerical results also show that our proposed centralized and distributed resource allocation algorithms outperform the existing reference algorithms in terms of the network EE.     

压电液压隔振器的能量回收特性分析与测试

为实现高性能的振动主动控制、振动能量回收以及基于能量回收的自供电半主动振动控制,提出一种压电液压隔振器．基于实际流体的可压缩性,建立了压电液压隔振器的能量回收系统模型并进行了模拟仿真分析,获得了相关要素对发电量的影响规律．结果表明,压电液压隔振器的发电能力随系统背压及液压缸振幅的增加而增加,且存在最佳压电振子直径、厚度以及直径一厚度比使发电量最大．采用嘶0×1．6mm。单晶压电振子及@16×100mm3液压缸制作了试验样机,并以水为工作介质进行了不同频率、背压、激振器振幅条件下的试验测试．试验所获得的压电液压隔振器的最佳工作频率仅为6Hz,可用于低频振动能量回收．在频率为6Hz、激振器输入电压为9V、背压为0．4MPa时,发电量为2．42mJ;当其他条件相同,背压为0．4MPa时的发电量约为无背压时的20倍．     

应用于无线传感器节点的微小型复合能源收集系统(英文)

设计并实现了一种可应用于无线传感器节点的复合能源系统样机,基于一种无线地磁交通流传感器,提出了本文的设计目标.选择太阳能、风能、应变能作为系统的能量源.根据这3种不同能量源的特性,对能量管理模块与能量储存模块进行了针对性设计,最后实现并测试了样机.实验结果表明,该样机可连续35 h在3.55 V电压下输出50mW的电能.     

Transmissive Labyrinthine Acoustic Metamaterial-Based Holography for Extraordinary Energy Harvesting

Conventional energy sources are continuously depleting, and the world is actively seeking new green and efficient energy solutions. Enormous amounts of acoustic energy are dissipated daily, but the low intensity and limited efficiency of current harvesting techniques are preventing its adoption as a ubiquitous method of power generation. Herein, a strategic solution to increase acoustic energy harvesting efficiency using a specially designed metamaterial is implemented. A scalable transmissive labyrinthine acoustic metamaterial (LAM) is designed, developed, and employed to maximize ultrasound (40 kHz) capture over its large surface area (>27 k mm²), which is focused onto a piezoelectric film (78.6 mm²), thus magnifying incident sound pressure by 13.6 times. Three different piezoelectric films – two commercial and one lab-made nanocomposite film are tested with LAM in the acoustic energy harvesting system. An extraordinary voltage gain of 157–173% and a maximum power gain of 272% using the LAM compared to the case without the LAM are achieved. Multipoint focusing using holographic techniques, showcasing acoustic patterning to allow on-demand simultaneous harvesting in separate locations, is demonstrated. Our versatile approach for high-intensity acoustic energy harvesting opens future opportunities to exploit sound energy as a resource to contribute toward global sustainability.     

Recent Advances in Mechanical Vibration Energy Harvesters Based on Triboelectric Nanogenerators

With the development of autonomous/smart technologies and the Internet of Things (IoT), tremendous wireless sensor nodes (WSNs) are of great importance to realize intelligent mechanical engineering, which is significant in the industrial and social fields. However, current power supply methods, cable and battery for instance, face challenges such as layout difficulties, high cost, short life, and environmental pollution. Meanwhile, vibration is ubiquitous in machinery, vehicles, structures, etc., but has been regarded as an unwanted by-product and wasted in most cases. Therefore, it is crucial to harvest mechanical vibration energy to achieve in situ power supply for these WSNs. As a recent energy conversion technology, triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is particularly good at harvesting such broadband, weak, and irregular mechanical energy, which provides a feasible scheme for the power supply of WSNs. In this review, recent achievements of mechanical vibration energy harvesting (VEH) related to mechanical engineering based on TENG are systematically reviewed from the perspective of contact–separation (C-S) and freestanding modes. Finally, existing challenges and forthcoming development orientation of the VEH based on TENG are discussed in depth, which will be conducive to the future development of intelligent mechanical engineering in the era of IoT.     

Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Design Principles for Materials and Structures: Material Figure-of-Merit and Self-Resonance Tuning

Piezoelectric energy harvesters (PEHs) aim to generate sufficient power to operate targeting device from the limited ambient energy. PEH includes mechanical-to-mechanical, mechanical-to-electrical, and electrical-to-electrical energy conversions, which are related to PEH structures, materials, and circuits, respectively; these should be efficient for increasing the total power. This critical review focuses on PEH structures and materials associated with the two major energy conversions to improve PEH performance. First, the resonance tuning mechanisms for PEH structures maintaining continuous resonance, regardless of a change in the vibration frequency, are presented. Based on the manual tuning technique, the electrically- and mechanically-driven self-resonance tuning (SRT) techniques are introduced in detail. The representative SRT harvesters are summarized in terms of tunability, power consumption, and net power. Second, the figure-of-merits of the piezoelectric materials for output power are summarized based on the operating conditions, and optimal piezoelectric materials are suggested. Piezoelectric materials with large k_ij, d_ij, and g_ij values are suitable for most PEHs, whereas those with large k_ij and Q_m values should be used for on-resonance conditions, wherein the mechanical energy is directly supplied to the piezoelectric material. This comprehensive review provides insights for designing efficient structures and selection of proper piezoelectric materials for PEHs.     

Recent Advancements in Nanogenerators for Energy Harvesting

Nanomaterial‐based generators are a highly promising power supply for micro/nanoscale devices, capable of directly harvesting energy from ambient sources without the need for batteries. These generators have been designed within four main types: piezoelectric, triboelectric, thermoelectric, and electret effects, and consist of ZnO‐based, silicon‐based, ferroelectric‐material‐based, polymer‐based, and graphene‐based examples. The representative achievements, current challenges, and future prospects of these nanogenerators are discussed.     

Energy Harvesting Research: The Road from Single Source to Multisource

Energy harvesting technology may be considered an ultimate solution to replace batteries and provide a long‐term power supply for wireless sensor networks. Looking back into its research history, individual energy harvesters for the conversion of single energy sources into electricity are developed first, followed by hybrid counterparts designed for use with multiple energy sources. Very recently, the concept of a truly multisource energy harvester built from only a single piece of material as the energy conversion component is proposed. This review, from the aspect of materials and device configurations, explains in detail a wide scope to give an overview of energy harvesting research. It covers single‐source devices including solar, thermal, kinetic and other types of energy harvesters, hybrid energy harvesting configurations for both single and multiple energy sources and single material, and multisource energy harvesters. It also includes the energy conversion principles of photovoltaic, electromagnetic, piezoelectric, triboelectric, electrostatic, electrostrictive, thermoelectric, pyroelectric, magnetostrictive, and dielectric devices. This is one of the most comprehensive reviews conducted to date, focusing on the entire energy harvesting research scene and providing a guide to seeking deeper and more specific research references and resources from every corner of the scientific community.     

A Micropillar-Assisted Versatile Strategy for Highly Sensitive and Efficient Triboelectric Energy Generation under In-Plane Stimuli

For the application of portable and wearable devices, the development of energy harvesters sensitive to various types of local and subtle mechanical displacements is essential. One of the most abundant but difficult-to-harvest mechanical energies in everyday life is the in-plane kinetic energy that arises from a rubbing motion. Here, an efficient method is proposed to generate electrical energy from tiny horizontal forces by laminating microstructures on a conventional triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). The microhairy structures serve to induce contact friction between the two dielectric materials, driven by reversible mechanical bending when a contact rubbing pressure or noncontact airflow is applied in the horizontal direction. Compared to TENG devices without microstructures, the introduction of microstructures greatly enhances the energy harvesting in the same situation. In addition, the TENG device with micropillars can generate electrical output under tiny mechanical variations (<0.2 Pa) induced by a local deformation below individual micropillars. A high energy-generation capability is demonstrated by rubbing textured samples on the micropillar-structured TENG devices to induce horizontal contact friction. The devices can also efficiently harvest electrical energy from noncontact fluidic airflow. By assembling the microhairy structures on a conventional TENG, more complex and realistic mechanical motion can be harvested.     

悬臂梁压电振动能采集器的集总参数模型和实验验证

压电振动能采集器是无线传感节点的一种理想电源,近年来受到广泛关注．考虑质量块和逆压电效应影响,建立了在基础激励作用下的悬臂梁压电振动能采集器的集总参数运动微分方程,得到了采集器固有频率的解析表达式．引入了2个反映压电层连接方式的常数,建立了对单压电层、双压电层并联和双压电层串联的悬臂梁压电振动能采集器均适用的耦合电路方程．求解以上方程,得到了简谐基础激励下的输出电压表达式．实验结果表明,固有频率和输出电压表达式的相对误差分别小于10％和20％．     

Electrospinning Triboelectric Laminates: A Pathway for Scaling Energy Harvesters

Herein, a new paradigm of triboelectric polymers—the triboelectric laminate—a volumetric material with electromechanical response comparable to the benchmark soft piezoelectric material polyvinylidene difluoride is reported. The electromechanical response in the triboelectric laminate arises from aligned dipoles, generated from the orientation of contact electrification in the laminates bulk volume. The dipoles form between sequential bilayers consisting of two different electrospun polymer fibers of different diameter. The loose interface between the fiber bilayers ensures friction and triboelectric charging between two polymers. The electric output from the electrospun triboelectric laminate increases with increasing density of the bilayers. This system design has clear benefits over other flexible devices for mechanical energy harvesting as it does not require any poling procedures, and the electromechanical response is stable over 24 h of continuous operation. Moreover, the electromechanically responsive electrospun laminate can be made from all types of polymers, thus providing ample room for further improvements or functionalities such as stretchability, biodegradability, or biocompatibility. The concept of a triboelectric laminate can be introduced into existing triboelectric nanogenerator form factors, to dramatically increase charge harvesting of a variety of devices.     

喷丸过程中的能量转化及残余应力分布研究

本文建立了喷丸表面强化过程的三维有限元模型,研究了靶材的力学性能及弹丸喷射速度对能量转化率和残余应力分布的影响规律。通过对有限元计算结果的分析发现,杨氏模量与屈服强度之比E/&;#61555;y较大,应变硬化率较低的靶材喷丸效率较高。屈服强度的提高使得最大残余压应力变大,残余压应力场深度变小。应变硬化率和喷丸速度的提高均会使最大残余压应力及其深度变大,同时会使表面残余压应力减小并向拉应力转变。本文的研究结果从能量转化的角度为喷丸强化件材料的选择提供了理论基础