High-Frequency Mechanical Energy Harvester with Direct Current Output from Chemical Potential Difference

As an energy harvester that converts mechanical power into electrical energy, a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) with a pair of metallic and insulating electrodes can generate only the displacement current (I-dis) in the electrodes, whereas a chemical potential difference generator (CPG) with a pair of semiconducting or/and metallic electrodes can generate both I-dis and conduction current (I-con). Considering the effects of motion parameters on I-dis and Icon is important for harvesting different mechanical energies in practical scenarios; the output characteristics of CPGs and traditional TENGs under different external resistance (R), contact-separation frequency (f), and maximum separation distance (x(m)) were systematically studied for the first time in this work. More interestingly, a direct current (DC) output can be generated directly by CPGs under R > 10 M omega or f > 100 Hz. This work not only provides a guideline for collecting different mechanical energies but also promotes the development of CPGs as an energy harvester and self-powered vibration sensor in the semiconductor industry.