Enhanced triboelectric nanogenerators in saline environments and their applications in the ocean

Abstract

Blue energy resources hold immense potential in alleviating global energy pressures, with the Triboelectric Nanogenerator (TENG) gaining attention for its unique ability to harvest ocean energy. However, applying TENG technology in the ocean still faces challenges due to its limited performance in hypersaline environments. In this work, a solid-liquid contact-based TENG is proposed for harvesting ocean wave energy. The TENG generates a significant charge output reaching up to 2.5 μC in saline water and excels in producing substantial instantaneous currents of up to 2 mA. This TENG ensures a relatively stable output in hypersaline environments. Furthermore, the TENG demonstrates the capability to degrade 98.83 % of organic dye Rhodamine B in 360 min by ionizing sodium chloride solution. Finally, a self-powered system for monitoring environmental parameters and detecting water levels is developed. This work showcases the high efficiency of TENG in harvesting energy from the ocean environment and demonstrates its immense potential for applications in marine environmental monitoring and seawater purification.