Maximizing energy efficiency with a mirror-structured hybrid generator leveraging triboelectric and photovoltaic cells for optimal coverage and wind awareness

Abstract

As an approach for enhancing electrical outputs of the photovoltaic (PV) cell, a mirror-based photovoltaic cell is suggested for gathering light at a focus. Here, a concave mirror-based small PV cell with large coverage area and a curved wind triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) with a fluttering film for sensing wind velocity are hybridized to effectively collect light energy. For the output optimization of the mirror-based PV cell, the curvature of the mirror, height of the PV cell, and curvature of the PV cell are changed. The output efficiency of the mirror-based PV cell shows a value of 69.9% of output current compared with that of the PV cell with the direct injecting conditions. Effects of the directionality and presence of SiO2 powder on electrical outputs of the mirror-based PV cell are experimentally demonstrated. For the curved wind TENG, the curvature of the mirror and cut conditions of the FEP film are optimized for obtaining the highest electrical outputs. For the wind velocity sensing application, the sensitivity of the curved wind TENG is checked with 5.54 m s-1 with 1 standard output voltage. Wind injecting conditions are successfully distinguished by using the curved wind TENG representing the possibility for estimating the dust accumulation period. A hybrid generator of a mirror-based PV cell & curved wind TENG enhances the coverage area of small PV cells. The mirror-based PV cell additionally yields 69.9% (current) & 77.8% (voltage) compared to direct light with the structural optimization.