Vertical-Axis Rotary Triboelectric Nanogenerator with a Dual-Shaft Design for Enhanced Performance

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) offer a promising avenue for renewable energy generation, particularly from wind sources. In this study, we present a structural modification approach to enhance the output performance of rotary-type wind-driven TENGs by introducing a dual-shaft mechanism. This design modification significantly improves energy harvesting efficiency and reliability across a wide range of wind speeds, especially under low wind speed conditions. Our dual-shaft TENG (DS-TENG) nearly doubles the frequency of contact-separation events compared to conventional configurations, resulting in substantially higher electrical output. Experimental results demonstrate that the DS-TENG consistently outperforms traditional designs across all wind speed ranges, with notable improvements in RMS voltage (108.72%) and current (119.82%). Fast Fourier Transform analysis further highlights the potential of the DS-TENG for reliable low wind speed anemometry. The versatility of the dual-shaft design enables its application in various rotary-type energy harvesters, offering a promising solution for sustainable energy harvesting in diverse environmental conditions.