US Patent 8680751 Hybrid nanogenerator for harvesting chemical and mechanical energy

A generator includes a bio-compatible substrate onto which one mechanical generating unit is disposed. A plurality of elongated piezoelectric fibers each have a first end that is in electrical communication with a first electrode and an opposite second end that is in electrical communication with a second electrode. An insulative layer covers the first electrode, the second electrode and the elongated piezoelectric fibers. A third electrode and a fourth electrode are each disposed on the bio-compatible substrate opposite from the mechanical generating unit. A proton conducting member is in contact with both the third electrode and the fourth electrode. A glucose catalyzing enzyme is electrically coupled to the third electrode. An oxidase enzyme is electrically coupled to the fourth electrode. The third electrode is in electrical communication with each first electrode and the fourth electrode is in electrical communication with each second electrode.