Triboelectric nanogenerator for harvesting ultra-high-speed wind energy with high-frequency output†

As a leading and potential renewable energy alternative, harvesting wind energy has become an essential solution to global energy challenges. However, wind turbines face challenges in harvesting wind energy due to their relatively high cost and limitations associated with the operating wind speed. To overcome these challenges, we propose a fluttering wind-driven triboelectric nanogenerator, mainly achieved by changing the vibration triboelectric layer. Conclusively, wind flow can be converted into electric power at airflow speeds up to 81 m s⁻¹ at a significantly low cost. A higher-frequency signal output was realized for the same wind speed, eventually reaching the frequency of 12 260 Hz. At the same time, we achieved more than 3000 V voltage output by changing the size of the fabricated device. This work provides a pioneering strategy for harvesting energy across a broad range of wind speeds, showcasing the advantages of effective wind energy collection at extremely high speeds producing ultra-high output frequency; addressing their advantages over conventional wind energy harvesting technologies.