A High-Voltage DC-DC Buck Converter with Dual-Parameter Maximum Power Point Tracking for Triboelectric Nanogenerator Energy Harvesting

Abstract

This work presents a high-voltage (HV) energyharvester interface integrated circuit (EHI-IC) designed for efficient energy extraction from triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) operating in high-impedance, low-frequency oceanic environments. TENGs produce short-duration, HV pulses with equivalent source resistances in the 2–10 MΩ range, posing challenges for conventional power management circuits. The proposed EHI-IC incorporates a full-bridge rectifier followed by an HV DC-DC buck converter with a dual-parameter maximum power point tracking (MPPT). A voltage-to-current calibration block and a power-to-bit converter provide digital monitoring of input power, enabling dynamic adjustment of the converter duty cycle to maximize power transfer. Zero-currentswitching (ZCS) control ensures precise timing of power switches, minimizing reverse current and improving efficiency. Fabricated in a 0.18-μm HV bipolar CMOS-DMOS (BCD) process with a compact 3 mm² footprint, the EHI-IC achieves output voltage between 1.3 and 1.8 V and MPPT efficiencies up to 95.5%. The end-to-end efficiency of EHI-IC achieved 90.4% with a power consumption of 926.8 nW. Experimental and simulation results validate reliable operation for self-powered Internet of Things (IoT) and wearable applications.