Achieving Ultrahigh Efficiency of Triboelectric Nanogenerator Energy Harvesting Systems via Hybrid Electronic-Spark Power Management

Significant efforts are devoted to optimizing the efficiency of triboelectric energy harvesting systems, particularly through the design of an advanced power management system (PMS) for Triboelectric Nanoenerators (TENGs). A critical aspect of PMS is the design and control of switches. However, existing switches face significant limitations. For spark switches, precise control cannot be achieved, and electronic switches can only operate at voltages below several hundred volts which is limited by the risk of electrical breakdown. To address these limitations, a hybrid electronic-spark switch power management system (HESS) is proposed. HESS changes the connection of capacitors from parallel to series by deploying a maximum voltage tracking switch components at the peak voltage point, resulting in a much-elevated voltage level to activate the spark switch. This approach achieves precise control of the spark switch for the first time and significantly reduces the operating voltage of electronic switches. Through simulation and experimental verification, HESS achieves the control at a voltage level of 1.8 kV for spark switch, with an electrical component breakdown voltage of only 450 V. The power density of the HESS is 29.8 mW Hz⁻¹ m⁻², which is a new record for electronic switches. © 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.