Hybrid human energy harvesting method of MTEG-TENG based on a flexible shared substrate

The growing popularity and enhanced functionality of wearable devices have brought the energy supply challenge into sharp focus. Ambient energy harvesting presents a viable solution to this challenge. In this manuscript, a Micro Thermoelectric Generator-Triboelectric Nanogenerator (MTEG-TENG) hybrid energy harvesting method is proposed, a theoretical model of MTEG-TENG energy harvest is established, a flexible MTEG-TENG wearable prototype integrating thin-film MTEG, Airbag-type TENG (Ab-TENG) and power management unit is fabricated, and a series of related experimental studies are carried out. A new shared substrate is proposed to realize the integrated structure of the MTEG unit and Ab-TENG unit. Proposing innovative solvothermal synthesis boosts Bi2Te3 thermoelectric material ZT value to 1.17. The experimental results show that the MTEG unit and AbTENG unit in the prototype can generate output voltages of 70.65 mV and 27.9V, respectively, when the temperature difference is 20K and the swing frequency is 2Hz. Compared with the single MTEG unit or Ab-TENG unit, the charging efficiency of the flexible MTEG-TENG hybrid energy harvester is improved by 150% and 640%, respectively. The prototype can effectively harvest the mechanical and thermal energy the divers generate during swimming, offering an innovative solution to the continuous power supply challenge for underwater wearable electronic devices.