Integrating luminescence with triboelectricity: Meticulously designed hybrid nanogenerator for multipurpose applications

Abstract

A seamless combination of mechanical energy-harvesting triboelectric nanogenerators with other technologies is the key to widening their applicability. Combining luminescent and triboelectric materials can develop hybrid nanogenerators (HNGs) which can be utilized for energy-harvesting, optical thermometry, and lighting applications. In this study, we designed an Er³⁺ and Eu³⁺ co-doped Sr_1.85Ca_0.15NaNb₅O₁₅ (SCNNO:EE) green-yellow-emitting phosphor with excellent temperature-sensing capabilities. SCNNO:EE possessed a high dielectric constant and was thus utilized as a filler inside the polydimethylsiloxane polymer to fabricate composite films. The composite films were employed to fabricate various HNG devices and the filler concentration was optimized to attain the highest electrical output of 170 ​V, 5.05 ​μA, and 75 ​μC/m². The piezoelectric-structured energy-harvesting device (PSEHD) was fabricated and further modified to fabricate a self-activated PSEHD (SAPSEHD) for solid-state lighting applications. Different engraved aluminum electrodes were attached to the composite films to obtain different glowing words and patterns. The electrical signals generated by the PSEHD, when the pressure was applied, were fed into the processing unit, which further flowing into the SAPSEHD. The SAPSEHD can generate electrical signals when pressure is applied and automatically produce light by activating the phosphor in the composite film. This type of devices could attract attention at the places where pressure-activated automatic lighting is required. Also, owing to the promising properties of the proposed devices, they can be utilized for various applications on a large scale.