Diagonal Mode: A New Mode for Triboelectric Anogenerators Energy Harvesters

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have shown a great potential for harvesting low frequency mechanical energy. It is thus considered a suitable energy source for both self-powered applications and bulk energy harvesting. In this work, a new diagonal motion mode is studied intensively in attached electrode regime and simulated using COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS. The Diagonal motion mode offers a new degree of freedom represented in the angle of motion allowing for further energy optimization. A complete analytical model of the proposed TENG model has been derived. In addition, a comparison between the analytical model and the COMSOL simulation results has been done. The maximum error between the results is equal to 5.3% and the minimum error is equal to 0.88%. The accuracy of the analytical model was a motivation for constructing a Verilog-A model to study the device under different loading conditions. A case of simple resistive load is considered, the results show that the open circuit voltage, VOC, is equal to 5 V while the short circuit charge, Qso, is equal to 45 pC. The short circuit current is equal to 193 pA at theta of 0. Also, the peak power is equal to 50 pW for a load resistance of 110 GΩ.