Design and Performance Study of a Vibration Energy Harvesting Device Based on a Cantilever-Type Triboelectric Nanogenerator

This study examines a cantilever-driven sectorial-grating sliding triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) for vibration energy harvesting. The prototype converts cantilever motion into relative sliding of PTFE and PVC layers and modulates electrode overlap. Background: Vibration harvesting with triboelectric devices depends on mechanical motion, contact conditions and the electrical load. The response of a sectorial sliding geometry under specified motor operating conditions warrants experimental characterization. Objective: Our objective was to describe the operation of the fabricated cantilever-driven sectorial TENG and evaluate its electrical output, capacitor charging and an intermittent sensor demonstration. Methods: An idealized harmonic beam response and sectorial overlap model were used to describe motion-dependent charge transfer, and an electrostatic simulation examined the potential pattern. A prototype was tested at motor settings of 400, 500, 550 and 600 r/min. Resistive-load and rectified capacitor-charging results are reported as separate operating conditions. Results: At 500 r/min, the recorded open-circuit voltage reaches approximately 180 V. The previously plotted load-power values at the nominal 100 MΩ setting are 51.55 μW peak and 16.45 μW time-averaged power; their original voltage time series is unavailable for recalculation. A 100 μF capacitor reaches 1.7 V in 450 s, corresponding to 144.5 μJ of stored energy and a net average storage rate of 0.321 μW. Stored energy powered a temperature–humidity sensor in one observed operating episode. Discussion: The model and electrostatic simulation illustrate how relative sliding changes sectorial overlap and potential. Motor rotational frequencies are 6.67, 8.33, 9.17 and 10.00 Hz for the four settings; these are not direct measurements of cantilever excitation or resonance. The load-power and stored-energy rates refer to different electrical circuits and cannot establish a rectifier efficiency. Conclusions: The tested prototype demonstrates voltage generation, capacitor charging and intermittent sensor operation under the reported conditions. Device resonance, grating-specific gain and long-term stability remain to be established by dedicated measurements.