Hybrid Wind-Solar Self-Powered Detector System Using a Triboelectric-Photovoltaic Generator for Smart Agriculture

The growth of crops is affected by factors such as temperature, humidity, and salinity, so it is critical to monitor these indicators through detectors in smart agriculture. Collecting renewable energy in the farmland environment to power the detector will provide a feasible approach. Therefore, a triboelectric-photovoltaic hybrid generator (WS-TPHG) is proposed to collect solar and wind energy efficiently. The generator structure includes a photovoltaic panel (PV) and a wind-driven triboelectric nanogenerator (W-TENG). The switching function of the power supply can be realized through the power management circuit. In the case of sufficient light, the detector is powered by PV steadily, and in the case of insufficient light, the detector is powered by W-TENG via the switching function. The PV can supply a stable voltage of 8.1 V, and the open-circuit voltage (VOC) of W-TENG can reach 478.6 V at 180 rpm. The results verify that the detection of temperature, humidity, and salinity can be successfully achieved through the detector which is powered by WS-TPHG. In this article, the potential application of WS-TPHG is demonstrated in farmland to provide a solution for the sustainable development of agriculture. A triboelectric-photovoltaic generator (WS-TPHG) is designed to collect solar and wind energy in farmland and to realize the switching of light and dark energy supply through the power management circuit, so as to power the agricultural detector.image (c) 2024 WILEY-VCH GmbH