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With the advantages of superior wear resistance, mechanical durability, and stability, the liquid–solid triboelectric nanogenerator (LS-TENG) has been attracting much attention in the field of energy harvesting and self-powered sensors. However, most of the studies on LS-TENG focused on device innovations, changes in solid materials, and the effect of solid properties on output performance, and there is a lack of studies on liquids, especially at the molecular level. A U-tube LS-TENG was assembled to conduct experiments, whereby the effects of molecular structures, including molecular composition, carbon chain length, functional groups and material properties on the output performance were investigated. The deuterium replacing hydrogen and the atomic compositions could not achieve the enhancement of the output performance. Whether the chemical functional groups improve the output performance of LS-TENG depends on the mating solid material. Hydroxyl and cyanogenic groups can improve the output performance for the FEP case, while amide and cyanogenic groups can improve the output performance for the PTFE case. The order of output performances for functional groups of four groups of liquids with both FEP and PTFE materials is also obtained. It was also found that the dielectric constant is not positively correlated with the output performance. The results of this study might provide a reference for the deeper study and application of LS-TENG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advantages of superior wear resistance, mechanical durability, and stability, the liquid–solid triboelectric nanogenerator (LS-TENG) has been attracting much attention in the field of energy harvesting and self-powered sensors. However, most of the studies on LS-TENG focused on device innovations, changes in solid materials, and the effect of solid properties on output performance, and there is a lack of studies on liquids, especially at the molecular level. A U-tube LS-TENG was assembled to conduct experiments, whereby the effects of molecular structures, including molecular composition, carbon chain length, functional groups and material properties on the output performance were investigated. The deuterium replacing hydrogen and the atomic compositions could not achieve the enhancement of the output performance. Whether the chemical functional groups improve the output performance of LS-TENG depends on the mating solid material. Hydroxyl and cyanogenic groups can improve the output performance for the FEP case, while amide and cyanogenic groups can improve the output performance for the PTFE case. The order of output performances for functional groups of four groups of liquids with both FEP and PTFE materials is also obtained. It was also found that the dielectric constant is not positively correlated with the output performance. The results of this study might provide a reference for the deeper study and application of LS-TENG.

In recent years, low-power wireless sensors with high flexibility, portability and computing capability have been extensively applied in areas such as military, medicine and mechanical equipment condition monitoring. In this paper, a novel symmetrical T-shaped trapezoidal micro piezoelectric energy harvester (STTM-PEH) is proposed to supply energy for wireless sensors monitoring the vibrations of mechanical equipment. Firstly, the finite element model (FEM) of the STTM-PEH is established. Secondly, the modal analysis of the T-shaped trapezoidal piezoelectric cantilever beam is carried out by finite element software and its vibration modes are obtained. Additionally, the structural characteristics of the STTM-PEH and the composition of piezoelectric patches are described. Furthermore, the effects of resistance, acceleration coefficient, substrate materials and structural parameters of the output performance of the STTM-PEH are researched. The results indicate that the output power of the STTM-PEH rises first and then falls with a change in resistance, while the output voltage does not increase as resistance increases to a certain extent. Meanwhile, selecting copper as the piezoelectric material of the T-shaped trapezoidal piezoelectric cantilever beam can generate a higher energy output. Finally, how the structural parameters, including piezoelectric patch thickness, substrate thickness and cantilever head length, affect the output performance of the STTM-PEH is studied, which illustrates that the load range of the STTM-PEH can be appropriately broadened by adjusting the length of the cantilever beam head. This research is valuable for designing a novel high performance piezoelectric energy harvester.

In recent years, low-power wireless sensors with high flexibility, portability and computing capability have been extensively applied in areas such as military, medicine and mechanical equipment condition monitoring. In this paper, a novel symmetrical T-shaped trapezoidal micro piezoelectric energy harvester (STTM-PEH) is proposed to supply energy for wireless sensors monitoring the vibrations of mechanical equipment. Firstly, the finite element model (FEM) of the STTM-PEH is established. Secondly, the modal analysis of the T-shaped trapezoidal piezoelectric cantilever beam is carried out by finite element software and its vibration modes are obtained. Additionally, the structural characteristics of the STTM-PEH and the composition of piezoelectric patches are described. Furthermore, the effects of resistance, acceleration coefficient, substrate materials and structural parameters of the output performance of the STTM-PEH are researched. The results indicate that the output power of the STTM-PEH rises first and then falls with a change in resistance, while the output voltage does not increase as resistance increases to a certain extent. Meanwhile, selecting copper as the piezoelectric material of the T-shaped trapezoidal piezoelectric cantilever beam can generate a higher energy output. Finally, how the structural parameters, including piezoelectric patch thickness, substrate thickness and cantilever head length, affect the output performance of the STTM-PEH is studied, which illustrates that the load range of the STTM-PEH can be appropriately broadened by adjusting the length of the cantilever beam head. This research is valuable for designing a novel high performance piezoelectric energy harvester. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]