Enhanced Electrical Output via a 3D Printed Dual Nanogenerator Based on Bi₂WO₆ for Mechanical Energy Harvesting and Sensing Applications

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have gained significant attention for harvesting mechanical energy from everyday scenarios. Maximizing the TENG’s electrical output involves factors like dielectric film properties, where surface charge density is correlated with the dielectric constant. This study focuses on synthesizing biconcave bismuth tungstate [Bi₂WO₆ (BWO)] microparticles and embedding them into a polydimethylsiloxane polymer matrix to create a dual-purpose nanogenerator for energy harvesting and sensing applications. The investigation starts with a thorough analysis of the BWO material properties, followed by fine-tuning of dielectric features and optimizing the electrical performance of the composite film through various BWO concentrations. The 2.5 wt % BWO-based film nanogenerator exhibits enhanced dielectric constant, voltage, current, and charge values of approximately 5, 200 V, 4 μA, and 5 nC, respectively. This optimal composite material serves as the foundation for a hybrid nanogenerator (HNG) that synergistically exploits triboelectric and piezoelectric effects for simultaneous energy harvesting from mechanical and vibrational sources. A significant boost in the electrical output emerges through combining multiple energy harvesters. The harvested energy is used in powering portable electronics. The HNG is also employed in the wireless signal transmission in the sensor system and further in a wireless power transfer setup, showing the broad prospects of the fabricated HNGs in applications.