Wind energy harvester based on coaxial rotatory freestanding triboelectric nanogenerators for self-powered water splitting

Abstract

Electrolysis of water is utilized as an environment friendly approach for production of hydrogen (H2). An external power supply for driving the oxidation or reduction reactions of H2O molecules is mandatory for electrolysis. Harvesting energy from our living environment for electrolytic water splitting is a cost-effective technology for mass production of H2. Here, a coaxial rotatory freestanding triboelectric nanogenerator (CRF-TENG) wind energy harvester was demonstrated, in which the electrospinning PVDF nanofibrous membrane served as triboelectric material. And then a fully self-powered water splitting system for hydrogen production was presented based on the CRF-TENG. By scavenging ambient wind energy, the generated electricity is used for water splitting to produce H2, instead of the external power source. The amounts of H2 were measured by a gas circulation system and gas chromatograph and the H2 evolution rates were calculated. When the wind speed is 10 m/s, the hydrogen generation rate reaches 6.9685 μL/min in the 1 M KOH solution, suggesting an easy scale-up and efficient route for converting ambient mechanical energy into hydrogen energy. Such self-powered water splitting system opens up a new road to more energy applications.