All-in-One High Output Rotary Electrostatic Nanogenerators Based on Charge Pumping and Voltage Multiplying

ACS Nano. 2021 Oct 26;15(10):16861-16869. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.1c07480. Epub 2021 Oct 1.

Abstract

Electrostatic generators as a kind of effective energy harvesters have attracted intensive attention. However, the output of the generators is highly dependent on the charge density. Here, we demonstrate an all-in-one rotary electrostatic nanogenerator based on the charge pumping and voltage multiplying strategy (CV-ESG), which achieves high output power in SF6 atmosphere. CV-ESG integrates a pumping electret generator, a main generator, and a voltage multiplying and stabilization circuit on a pair of rotator and stator. We analyze the breakdown effect and its influence on the insulating layer covered on the electrodes through experiments. The breakdown voltage is high in SF6 atmosphere, and the maximum average power of CV-ESG in SF6 is 37.29 mW at 750 rpm, which is 3.29 times that in air. There is no surface friction in CV-ESG, which avoids abrasion and reduces friction damping. And the pumping generator is integrated with the main generator, making CV-ESG compact and easy to assemble. This work provides the design strategy for a high-power rotary electrostatic generator with good performance.

Keywords: SF6 atmosphere; breakdown effect; charge pumping; electret; rotary generator; voltage multiplying.