Rotating-Disk-Based Hybridized Electromagnetic–Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Sustainably Powering Wireless Traffic Volume Sensors

• Published in: ACS nano 2016-06, Vol.10 (6), p.6241-6247
• Main Authors: Zhang, Binbin, Chen, Jun, Jin, Long, Deng, Weili, Zhang, Lei, Zhang, Haitao, Zhu, Minhao, Yang, Weiqing, Wang, Zhong Lin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1936-0851; 1936-086X
• DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.6b02384

Wireless traffic volume detectors play a critical role for measuring the traffic-flow in a real-time for current Intelligent Traffic System. However, as a battery-operated electronic device, regularly replacing battery remains a great challenge, especially in the remote area and wide distribution. Here, we report a self-powered active wireless traffic volume sensor by using a rotating-disk-based hybridized nanogenerator of triboelectric nanogenerator and electromagnetic generator as the sustainable power source. Operated at a rotating rate of 1000 rpm, the device delivered an output power of 17.5 mW, corresponding to a volume power density of 55.7 W/m3 (P d = P/V, see Supporting Information for detailed calculation) at a loading resistance of 700 Ω. The hybridized nanogenerator was demonstrated to effectively harvest energy from wind generated by a moving vehicle through the tunnel. And the delivered power is capable of triggering a counter via a wireless transmitter for real-time monitoring the traffic volume in the tunnel. This study further expands the applications of triboelectric nanogenerators for high-performance ambient mechanical energy harvesting and as sustainable power sources for driving wireless traffic volume sensors.