A self-adaptive triboelectric-electromagnetic hybrid wind energy harvester for sustainable air quality control and environmental monitoring

Among the representative energy-harvesting devices, wind energy harvesters require a sophisticated system design that considers the nature of wind, which is characterized by fluctuating and broad wind speed ranges. This study presents a self-adaptive rotational triboelectric–electromagnetic hybrid wind energy harvester (SAREH) capable of autonomously adapting its configuration according to wind speed. Because the energy-harvesting efficiency at a specific wind speed depends on the configuration of the system, the autonomous adaptation of the SAREH configuration enables effective energy harvesting across a broader range of wind speeds. Furthermore, by hybridizing a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) and an electromagnetic generator (EMG), which have distinct electrical output characteristics, the SAREH can satisfy various electrical power input demands for electronic devices. As a result, the SAREH powers a self-powered air purification and air quality monitoring system using the TENG output for dust absorption and the EMG output for operating a dust-detecting device, even under lower wind speed conditions. This study provides significant insights into not only the design process of energy-harvesting systems for enhanced input energy conversion but also a sustainable air quality control system for a clean environment.