Self-doubled-rectification of triboelectric nanogenerator

Highlights: • The first AC to DC conversion module optimized for TENG is proposed. • SDR-TENG can bring 2x voltage, 3x energy output and 4x peak power. • SDR-TENG can bring a doubled stable voltage and solve the asymmetric problem. -- Abstract: Power management strategies and the corresponding circuits are the unbypassable tough technologies toward practical applications of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). To power electronics, there are two main tasks needed to be tackled for TENG, i.e., to convert the alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC), and to boost the energy output. In this work, we present a power management strategy named Self-doubled-rectification of TENG (SDR-TENG), which is the first AC to DC conversion method delicately customized based on the unique features of TENG. The SDR-TENG divides each operation cycle of the TENG into two periods with different output directions, and keeps the output of one period in the inner capacitor of the TENG and waits until the next period to be released all together. In this way, the voltage output can at most be doubled, the energy output increases two times, and the peak power output can be increased by a factor of four, compared to the traditional bridge rectification, separately. More importantly, SDR-TENG can be easily achieved through only two diodes and work compatibly with all other power management strategies. It is believed that this method may become a standard power management module and can further broaden the applications of TENG devices across fields.