Abstract

Recent advancements in energy harvesting have led to innovative methods for converting droplet motion into electricity, such as droplet triboelectric nanogenerators (D-TENGs). However, enhancing their power generation capacity and efficiency remains a challenge. We present a novel surface engineering approach that significantly boosts the electrical outputs of the D-TENGs. By grafting perfluorodecyltrimethoxysilane (PFDTMS) onto polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surfaces pre-treated with sandpaper, we achieve a dual effect: fluoridation and increased contact area between droplets and PDMS. This modification, when applied to a droplet-based TENG, yields a remarkable 10–20 fold increase in power metrics such as current, charge, and voltage as compared to untreated counterparts, resulting in an energy conversion efficiency of 17.1% under a 30 MΩ load. Our enhanced D-TENG efficiently harvested energy from falling tap water droplets, producing a current of ∼2 mA. Remarkably, a single droplet impact could illuminate 400 LED lights. Furthermore, when coupled with capacitors, the device powered a hygrometer and 3 W light bulbs, demonstrating substantial potential for real-world applications. This breakthrough in surface engineering for energy harvesters represents a significant step forward in the efficient and powerful generation of electricity from droplet motions.

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