A Unified Material Platform: Dual-Function BTS-BCT Ceramic Enables Hybrid Piezo-Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Synergistic Mechanical Energy Harvesting.
Abstract
To overcome the limited output performance of individual nanogenerators, this study proposes a hybrid piezo-triboelectric nanogenerator (HNG) that synergistically combines both mechanisms to enhance the overall electrical output. 0.85Ba(Ti0.89Sn0.11)O3-0.15(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3 (BTS-BCT) ceramic powder, characterized by a high piezoelectric coefficient and dielectric constant, was synthesized via solid-state reaction. Strategically utilizing this material in two distinct forms, pure BTS-BCT ceramic sheets were employed for the piezoelectric component, while a flexible BTS-BCT/bacterial cellulose (BC) composite film served as the positive triboelectric layer, leveraging its high surface charge density and environmental compatibility. Guided by a "series voltage boosting and parallel current amplification" strategy, two piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) were first connected in series to increase voltage and subsequently integrated in parallel with the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) to enhance current. Benefiting from this integrated design, the HNG delivered superior energy harvesting efficiency and capacitor charging rates compared to individual units, capable of charging a 47 µF capacitor to 3 V in 384 s. Furthermore, it successfully powered various electronic devices. This study offers novel insights into material optimization and structural design, specifically highlighting the efficacy of a "one-material, dual-use" strategy in maximizing component synergy, advancing the development of efficient self-powered systems.