The Flexible MWCNTs-PDMS Electrode-Based Counter-Rotating Hybrid Triboelectric–Electromagnetic Nanogenerator for Effective Wind Energy Harvesting

Wind energy is one of the most abundant and sustainable renewable energy resources. However, its efficient utilization remains challenging because of fluctuating wind speeds and multidirectional airflow. In this work, we develop a dual-rotor hybrid triboelectric–electromagnetic energy harvester (H-TENG) featuring flexible multiwalled carbon nanotube/poly(dimethylsiloxane) (MWCNTs/PDMS) composite electrodes to improve wind energy harvesting efficiency. The effects of electrode materials and rotor configurations on the electrical output of the device are systematically investigated. Compared with conventional copper electrodes, the flexible MWCNTs/PDMS composite electrodes increase the peak output power of the triboelectric unit by 46.1% at a wind speed of 6 m s−1, while the dual-rotor configuration further enhances the peak output power by up to approximately 195.6% relative to the single-rotor design. To overcome the limited, short-circuit current output of the triboelectric generator, an electromagnetic generator is integrated into the hybrid system. The optimized device delivers a maximum output open-circuit voltage of 1212.34 V from the TENG and a maximum short-circuit current of 13.64 mA from the EMG. The harvested energy is sufficient to continuously power a digital watch and 240 light-emitting diodes (LEDs). This work provides an effective material–structure synergistic strategy for high-performance hybrid wind energy harvesters and offers a promising approach for harvesting low-speed and multidirectional wind energy.