A Triboelectric Nanogenerator Based on Pendulum-Rotation Transmission Mechanism for Harvesting Continuous Low-Frequency Mechanical Energy

Harvesting the omnipresent mechanical energy emerges as an essential solution in combating environmental pollution and alleviating energy deficits. However, the ultra-low frequencies and variable amplitudes of most ambient mechanical energy pose significant challenges to effective energy harvesting. To address this issue, this paper reports an innovative triboelectric nanogenerator based on pendulum-rotation transmission mechanism (PR-TENG) designed for efficacious harvesting of continuous low-frequency mechanical energy. It comprises two synergistic units: a transmission unit and a power-generating unit. The transmission unit is capable of converting external low-frequency mechanical excitations into unidirectional rotation. Through an internal speed-increasing mechanism, the rotational speed of the rotor can be further elevated, thereby enabling the power-generating unit to produce a frequency-multiplied output and markedly improving the energy transduction efficiency. The mechanism of triboelectrification employed by the power-generating unit further reduces the total weight of the device, thus advancing its portability. In addition, the coherent coaxial configuration of the device's components significantly enhances compactness and optimizes spatial efficiency. As a practical power source, the PR-TENG is shown to be capable of directly powering LEDs. Owing to its distinctive operational mechanism and structural innovation, the PR-TENG is a promising method to efficiently harvest low-frequency mechanical energy from the ambient environment. An innovative triboelectric nanogenerator based on pendulum-rotation transmission mechanism (PR-TENG) is proposed for harvesting continuous low-frequency mechanical energy. It can capture external low-frequency mechanical excitation and convert it into the high-speed rotation of the rotor, thereby generating a frequency-multiplied output. The PR-TENG is expected to find extensive applications across automotive, sailing, aviation and other fields. image