A Hybrid Nanogenerator Based on Rotational-Swinging Mechanism for Energy Harvesting and Environmental Monitoring in Intelligent Agriculture

With the rapid growth of the Internet of Things, intelligent agriculture is becoming increasingly important. Traditional agricultural monitoring methods, which rely on fossil fuels and complex wiring, hinder progress. This work introduces a hybrid nanogenerator based on a rotational-swinging mechanism (RSM-HNG) that combines triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) and electromagnetic generators (EMGs) for efficient wind energy harvesting and smart agriculture monitoring. The parallelogram mechanism and motion conversion structure enable the stacking and simultaneous contact-separation of multiple TENG layers. Moreover, it allows the TENG and EMG units to operate simultaneously, which improves energy harvesting efficiency and extends the system's lifespan compared to traditional disc-based friction wind energy harvesting methods. With four stacked layers, the short-circuit current of the TENG increases from 16 μA to 40 μA, while the transferred charge rises from 0.3 μC to 1.5 μC. By optimizing the crank angle, material selection, and substrate structure, the output performance of the RSM-HNG has been significantly enhanced. This technology powers a self-sustaining wireless monitoring system for temperature, humidity, an electronic clock, and road guidance. The RSM-HNG provides continuous energy for smart agriculture, animal husbandry, and environmental monitoring, all driven by wind energy. It holds great potential for regions with abundant wind resources but limited electricity access, offering valuable applications in these areas.