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Cited by 140Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting MaterialsInnovative Energy Harvesting TechnologiesWave and Wind Energy Systems

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Shadow enhanced self-charging power system for wave and solar energy harvesting from the ocean

Open access
Zhang, Qian, Liang, Qijie, Nandakumar, Dilip Krishna, Qu, Hao, Shi, Qiongfeng, Alzakia, Fuad Indra, Tay, Darrell Jun Jie, Yang, Lin, Zhang, Xueping, Suresh, Lakshmi, Lee, Chengkuo, Wee, Andrew Thye Shen, Tan, Swee Ching·2021·Nature Communications
DOI 10.1038/s41467-021-20919-9PMC PMC7841174
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Abstract

Hybrid energy-harvesting systems that capture both wave and solar energy from the oceans using triboelectric nanogenerators and photovoltaic cells are promising renewable energy solutions. However, ubiquitous shadows cast from moving objects in these systems are undesirable as they degrade the performance of the photovoltaic cells. Here we report a shadow-tribo-effect nanogenerator that hybrids tribo-effect and shadow-effect together to overcome this issue. Several fiber-supercapacitors are integrated with the shadow-tribo-effect nanogenerator to form a self-charging power system. To capture and store wave/solar energy from oceans, an energy ball based on the self-charging power system is demonstrated. By harnessing the shadow-effect, i.e. the shadow of the moving object in the energy ball, the charging time shortens to 253.3 s to charge the fiber-supercapacitors to the same voltage (0.3 V) as using pure tribo-effect. This cost-effective method to harvest and store the wave/solar energy from the oceans in this work is expected to inspire next-generation large-scale blue energy harvesting.

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Figures

Fig. 1 Structure design of energy ball and energy band diagram of the shadow-effect. a Schematic of the energy ball (diameter is 8 cm, F-SCs is short for fiber-supercapacitor) harvesting both solar energy and wave energy from ocean. Schematic illustration showing the configuration of the shadow-tribo-effect nanogenerator based self-charging power system: b bottom view and c front view. d Representative energy band diagram of Au/n-Si system.
Fig. 1 Structure design of energy ball and energy band diagram of the shadow-effect. a Schematic of the energy ball (diameter is 8 cm, F-SCs is short for fiber-supercapacitor) harvesting both solar energy and wave energy from ocean. Schematic illustration showing the configuration of the shadow-tribo-effect nanogenerator based self-charging power system: b bottom view and c front view. d Representative energy band diagram of Au/n-Si system.CC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 2 Characteristics of the shadow-effect. a Surface potential map with two light on/light off cycles and work function shift of the dark and illumination (20 mW cm−2). b UV-vis transmittance spectra, short-circuit current density (Jsc) and open-circuit voltage (Voc) of the Au/n-Si system without (blank) and with PDMS film. c The Relative current density (J15/J15, J60/J15, J240/J15) and relative voltage (V15/V15, V60/V15, V240/V15) versus the thickness of Au film of the Au/n-Si system. Inset is transmittance of the Au film with different thicknesses. d Effect of the ratio of shadow area on performance of Au/n-Si. e Jsc and Voc of the Au/n-Si system after removing 1 cm Au film in middle. f Performance of Au/n-Si system after removing middle Au film half-shadowed by different shadow-casting objects (blank, glass, black paper on glass).
Fig. 2 Characteristics of the shadow-effect. a Surface potential map with two light on/light off cycles and work function shift of the dark and illumination (20 mW cm−2). b UV-vis transmittance spectra, short-circuit current density (Jsc) and open-circuit voltage (Voc) of the Au/n-Si system without (blank) and with PDMS film. c The Relative current density (J15/J15, J60/J15, J240/J15) and relative voltage (V15/V15, V60/V15, V240/V15) versus the thickness of Au film of the Au/n-Si system. Inset is transmittance of the Au film with different thicknesses. d Effect of the ratio of shadow area on performance of Au/n-Si. e Jsc and Voc of the Au/n-Si system after removing 1 cm Au film in middle. f Performance of Au/n-Si system after removing middle Au film half-shadowed by different shadow-casting objects (blank, glass, black paper on glass).CC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 3 Working principle and typical output of the shadow-tribo-effect nanogenerator (S-TENG). Step-by-step illustration showing the a tribo-effect (TE) and b shadow-effect (SE) working principle of the S-TENG under dark and illumination conditions. c Equivalent circuit model of S-TENG hybrid TE and SE. d short-circuit current density (Jsc) of the S-TENG in dark and illumination by moving stage of force gauge up and down. Inset is the details of the output performance from 19.5 s to 24 s.
Fig. 3 Working principle and typical output of the shadow-tribo-effect nanogenerator (S-TENG). Step-by-step illustration showing the a tribo-effect (TE) and b shadow-effect (SE) working principle of the S-TENG under dark and illumination conditions. c Equivalent circuit model of S-TENG hybrid TE and SE. d short-circuit current density (Jsc) of the S-TENG in dark and illumination by moving stage of force gauge up and down. Inset is the details of the output performance from 19.5 s to 24 s.CC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 4 Output performance of the shadow-tribo-effect nanogenerator (S-TENG). a Glass with or without black paper moved on it up and down above half of S-TENG. Inset is the details of the output performance from 78 s to 80 s. b Influence of the frequency of the moving stage up and down on the short-circuit current density (Jsc) under dark and illumination conditions. c Influence of the moving stage up and down frequency on open-circuit voltage (Voc) under illumination conditions. d Dependence of light intensity on output of S-TENG. e The Voc and charge output of the S-TENG in a single-electrode TENG connection. f Output power density of the S-TENG in a single-electrode TENG connection with different load resistances.
Fig. 4 Output performance of the shadow-tribo-effect nanogenerator (S-TENG). a Glass with or without black paper moved on it up and down above half of S-TENG. Inset is the details of the output performance from 78 s to 80 s. b Influence of the frequency of the moving stage up and down on the short-circuit current density (Jsc) under dark and illumination conditions. c Influence of the moving stage up and down frequency on open-circuit voltage (Voc) under illumination conditions. d Dependence of light intensity on output of S-TENG. e The Voc and charge output of the S-TENG in a single-electrode TENG connection. f Output power density of the S-TENG in a single-electrode TENG connection with different load resistances.CC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 5 The performance of fiber-supercapacitors (F-SCs). a X-ray diffractometry and b Raman patterns of a few-layered MoS2 and bulk MoS2, respectively. c Scanning electron microscopy images of the few-layered MoS2 dipped carbon fiber (c1 is top view and c2 is cross view). d Cyclic voltammetry (CV) curves at a scan rate of 50 mV s−1 of F-SC with and without few-layered MoS2. e CV curves of the F-SC at the different scan rates. f Galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) curves of one F-SC at different current. g Cycle stability for 1200 cycles for F-SC (the insert is the detail of GCD curves after long time charge-discharge). h CV curves of the 5 F-SCs connected in series at the different scan rates. i The summary plot of capacitances of 5 F-SCs connected in series versus different discharging current.
Fig. 5 The performance of fiber-supercapacitors (F-SCs). a X-ray diffractometry and b Raman patterns of a few-layered MoS2 and bulk MoS2, respectively. c Scanning electron microscopy images of the few-layered MoS2 dipped carbon fiber (c1 is top view and c2 is cross view). d Cyclic voltammetry (CV) curves at a scan rate of 50 mV s−1 of F-SC with and without few-layered MoS2. e CV curves of the F-SC at the different scan rates. f Galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) curves of one F-SC at different current. g Cycle stability for 1200 cycles for F-SC (the insert is the detail of GCD curves after long time charge-discharge). h CV curves of the 5 F-SCs connected in series at the different scan rates. i The summary plot of capacitances of 5 F-SCs connected in series versus different discharging current.CC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 6 Application properties of the energy ball. a Intensity of wave influence on output of shadow-tribo-effect nanogenerator (S-TENG) in energy ball. b Short-circuit current density (Jsc) and power density of S-TENG in energy ball with various loads. c The measured Jsc and voltage of the S-TENG in the energy ball before and after being rectified. d Energy ball charging curve under single illumination (Shadow), illumination mixed wave (Shadow + Wave) and single wave (Wave). Inset is electric circuit of the S-TENG based self-charging power system and load. e Circuit management of S-TENG based self-charging power system applies in electrolysis of seawater. f Four energy balls are connected in series to charge 5 fiber-supercapacitors (F-SCs) in series and then discharge the F-SCs by seawater splitting. Inset is the four energy balls working together.
Fig. 6 Application properties of the energy ball. a Intensity of wave influence on output of shadow-tribo-effect nanogenerator (S-TENG) in energy ball. b Short-circuit current density (Jsc) and power density of S-TENG in energy ball with various loads. c The measured Jsc and voltage of the S-TENG in the energy ball before and after being rectified. d Energy ball charging curve under single illumination (Shadow), illumination mixed wave (Shadow + Wave) and single wave (Wave). Inset is electric circuit of the S-TENG based self-charging power system and load. e Circuit management of S-TENG based self-charging power system applies in electrolysis of seawater. f Four energy balls are connected in series to charge 5 fiber-supercapacitors (F-SCs) in series and then discharge the F-SCs by seawater splitting. Inset is the four energy balls working together.CC BY · PubMed Central

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Metadata

Authors
Zhang, Q., Liang, Q., Nandakumar, D. K., Qu, H., Shi, Q., Alzakia, F. I., Tay, D. J. J., Yang, L., Zhang, X., Suresh, L., Lee, C., Wee, A. T. S., & Tan, S. C.
Affiliations
National University of Singapore (SG)
Corresponding author
Tan, Swee Ching
ORCID
Venue
Nature Communications
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2021-01-27
Volume
12
Issue
1
Pages
616-616
ISSN
2041-1723 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1038/s41467-021-20919-9
PMC
PMC7841174
OpenAlex
W3122400851
Cited by
140
References
40
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 28 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 11
FWCI
7.67
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Nature Communications (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • National University of Singapore (submittedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
Ministry of Education - Singapore (R-284-000-217-112)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanical Engineering › Innovative Energy Harvesting Technologies
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Ocean Engineering › Wave and Wind Energy Systems
Keywords
triboelectric nanogenerator, solar cells, shadowing, wave energy conversion, solar energy harvesting, fiber supercapacitors, hybrid energy harvesting, salinity gradient energy

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