Boosting output performance of tri-hybrid vibration-based generator via quin-stable nonlinearity and speed amplification

A high-performance tri-hybrid vibration-driven generator with quin-stability and speed amplification characteristics is presented. This design integrates three different mechanisms in a compact and interactive working mode to enhance power density. Exploiting the quin-stable nonlinear behavior to the dynamic system creates a shallow potential well that can be triggered under broadband, low-level, and random ambient sources. In addition, the implementation of the rack and pinion steering system not only doubles the relative motion of the translators’ moving components in the electromagnetic and triboelectric units, and also increases the number of operations per cycle of the frequency up-conversion piezoelectric units. Consequently, the output performance of this tri-hybrid generator is significantly enhanced. To examine the working efficiency of this design, an experimental model is assembled and tested. In the shaker test, the peak output power of the prototype can be boosted to ∼822 mW, and the maximum power density is 7.74 mW cm−3 g−2 subjected to low excitation levels (5 Hz and 1-g acceleration). Experimental demonstrations are also carried out to exhibit the exceptional performance of this design that can support various power levels of electronic devices under human-induced motions.