Efficient Charging of Li-Ion Batteries with Pulsed Output Current of Triboelectric Nanogenerators

Xiong Pu; Mengmeng Liu; Linxuan Li; Chi Zhang; Yaokun Pang; Chunyan Jiang; Lihua Shao; Weiguo Hu; Zhong Lin Wang

doi:10.1002/advs.201500255

Efficient Charging of Li-Ion Batteries with Pulsed Output Current of Triboelectric Nanogenerators

Adv Sci (Weinh). 2015 Sep 25;3(1):1500255. doi: 10.1002/advs.201500255. eCollection 2016 Jan.

Authors

Xiong Pu¹, Mengmeng Liu¹, Linxuan Li¹, Chi Zhang¹, Yaokun Pang¹, Chunyan Jiang¹, Lihua Shao¹, Weiguo Hu¹, Zhong Lin Wang²

Affiliations

¹ Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems Chinese Academy of Science Beijing 100083 P.R. China.
² School of Materials Science and Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA 30332-0245 USA.

Abstract

The triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is a promising mechanical energy harvesting technology, but its pulsed output and the instability of input energy sources make associated energy-storage devices necessary for real applications. In this work, feasible and efficient charging of Li-ion batteries by a rotating TENG with pulsed output current is demonstrated. In-depth discussions are made on how to maximize the power-storage efficiency by achieving an impedance match between the TENG and a battery with appropriate design of transformers. With a transformer coil ratio of 36.7, ≈72.4% of the power generated by the TENG at 250 rpm can be stored in an LiFePO₄-Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ battery. Moreover, a 1 h charging of an LiCoO₂-C battery by the TENG at 600 rpm delivers a discharge capacity of 130 mAh, capable of powering many smart electronics. Considering the readily scale-up capability of the TENG, promising applications in personal electronics can be anticipated in the near future.

Keywords: Li‐ion battery; impedance match; power utilization efficiency; pulsed current; triboelectric nanogenerator.