A Volume Effect based Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Omnidirectional Wave Energy Harvesting

The marvel of the liquid-solid triboelectric nanogenerator (LS-TENG) has been demonstrated in its efficient energy harvesting via the contact electrification effect between liquid and solid triboelectric materials. The insufficient contact problems and wear issues frequently encountered in solid-solid TENGs are avoided through this technology. Nevertheless, the droplet-based LS-TENG has been plagued by problems of continuous falling droplets, which limits its practical application. Herein, we present an innovative droplet-based omnidirectional triboelectric nanogenerator (DB-TENG) utilizing the volume effect of droplets for efficient harvesting of ocean wave energy. With a unique concentric circular electrode pair built on an oblate plate, the DB-TENG achieves a significant improvement in output performance compared to traditional liquid-solid TENGs, with a maximum output voltage of 160V, which is 16 times higher, and a maximum current of 4000 nA, which is 40 times higher. This volume effect DB-TENG can perform reliably under extreme conditions of high humidity or high concentrations of salt, acid, or alkali solutions, making it a flexible tool for all types of working environments with enhanced reliability and reduced maintenance costs. What's more, the DB-TENG's omnidirectional capabilities make it suitable for capturing energy from various directions of ocean waves. The TENG's performance in ocean wave energy harvesting is evaluated and compared with traditional TENGs, demonstrating superior results in terms of output voltage and current. The proposed design holds significant potential for practical applications in blue energy harvesting and can inspire the development of self-sufficient ocean sensors. Overall, this study highlights the importance of volume-effect in enhancing the output performance of TENGs and presents a promising approach for efficient and sustainable ocean wave energy harvesting.