Fabrication of self-healing hybrid nanogenerators based on polyurethane and ZnO for harvesting wind energy

Energy is the most dependable need of the current era. With the tendency in portable electronics and self-powered systems, researchers have been developing nanogenerators and utilizing them as self-powered energy source. High output and optimum efficiency are always a key concern. Hence, in this research work, a hybrid NG based on both piezoelectric and triboelectric phenomena is proposed and utilized for harvesting wind energy. The UV curable polyurethane (PU) and a composite of zinc oxide (ZnO) in powder form with UV curable PU (ZnO + PU) are utilized for fabricating the triboelectric NG (TENG) and Piezoelectric NG (PNG), respectively. To combine the effect of both PNG and TENG, these two nanogenerators are stacked using a sponge as a spacer by providing a uniform air gap for triboelectrification. The hybrid nanogenerator module was connected in parallel to collect the electrical energy harvested. The fabricated hybrid nanogenerators effectively produced an open-circuit voltage of ~ 120 V and current density of ~ 140 µA cm −2 across 50 Ω resistor during fast speed wind from a stand fan. Apart from that, the developed hybrid NG can light up to 50 commercial LEDs, implying that the proposed hybrid NG can be used as a self-powered energy source in portable electronics, wireless and monitoring systems.