Vibration-coupled TENGs from weak to ultra-strong induced by vortex for harvesting low-grade airflow energy

Multi-direction, irregularity, low-grade, the dynamic characteristics of low-grade airflow energy are prominent that making it difficult to collect. Here, we propose a vibration-coupled triboelectric nanogenerator (VC-TENG) induced by vortex to achieve from weak to ultra-strong vibration, thus effectively converting low-grade airflow energy into vibrational mechanical energy, and then electric energy. The transferred charge and short-circuit current increases is 47 and 26.9 times due to designed vortex structure, and the resonant response time is 2 s at a speed of 4.1 m/s. A VC-TENG unit delivers a peak power of 4.5 mW under a load resistance of 500 MΩ. A grouping of applied demonstrations of self-powered system validates the practicality and durability of VC-TENG. This work offers a practical strategy for harvesting low-grade airflow energy, and is a promising distributed power technologies for self-powered monitoring and forecasting system in the wild.