Triboelectrification-driven microbial inactivation in a conductive cellulose filter for affordable, portable, and efficient water sterilization

Abstract

In the past decades, water disinfection systems with advances in technology have been studied worldwide, but undeveloped countries and regions still suffer from diseases caused by waterborne pathogens. Here, we report a portable and affordable water sterilization system with triboelectrification-driven microbial inactivation in a conductive cellulose filter, which is suitable to be used in such areas. A triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), which utilizes triboelectricity between two contact surfaces to generate sufficient amount of electricity, generates high frequency maximum peak power (~0.6 mW) and it enables to achieve electroporation in an electrically connected conductive cellulose membrane. The cooperation of the electricity generated from the rotational TENG with the conductive cellulose based filtration system synergistically works to achieve up to 100% of microbial removal efficiency after three filtration cycles without external power supply. Furthermore, cordless usage purpose TENG (CUP-TENG) with a cup configuration, which can be hand operable and also store the sterilized water, is developed to continuously supply the electricity to the conductive cellulose membrane for its practical utilization as a portable point-of-use water sterilization system. • Propose of portable, affordable and self-powered water sterilization system for rural areas. • Use of triboelectrification-driven electroporation in a conductive cellulose filter. • Achieve up to 100% of microbial removal efficiency after filtration. • Provide electricity from human hand motion without spatiotemporal limitations.