Solution‐Tube‐Based Volume Effect Triboelectric Nanogenerator with Salt and pH Sensitivity

Abstract

Due to the advantages of natural softness and flexibility of water, liquid–solid‐based triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have aroused wide attention recently and much effort has been devoted to improving its output performance. Herein, the performance of liquid–solid‐based TENG is greatly improved through two simple steps. First, an end electrode is added into the traditional tube‐based TENG and the volume effect is successfully realized, with the output voltage improved by ≈40 times to 240 V. Then, the output voltage of the tube‐based TENG can be further improved to 461 V by replacing water with NaOH solution and an impressive peak power density of 1910 Wm−3 and an average power density of 459 Wm−3 can be achieved. Additionally, the demonstration shows that the solution‐tube‐based volume effect TENG can work well at various operation modes and generate power from multiple mechanical energy sources. In addition to wearable human motion energy recovery, wave energy recovery, and electrochemical cathodic protection systems, the device also shows its application potential in biochemical sensing based on the solute concentration‐dependent output signal.

Recent Advances in Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Marine Exploitation

“…Shortly after, the ultrahigh peak power density of 1910 W m −3 and average power density of 459 W m −3 was realized by a liquid‐solid TENG with solution‐tube‐based structure through the volume effect and solution optimization. [ 37 ] Jurado et al. researched the effect of water‐dielectric interfaces on the output performance of single electrode liquid‐solid TENG for wave energy harvesting.…”

“…it can be used for the detection of high precision PH and salinity. [ 37 ] To monitor the related corrosion state of Mg treated by micro‐arc oxidation (MAO), Mg‐based sheets and polydimethylsiloxane film were used as triboelectric materials to fabricate an Mg‐based TENG (Figure 16b). [ 183 ] Experimental results show a linear relationship in simulated body fluid immersion tests and indicated that TENG sensor can successfully monitor the corrosion of MAO‐Mg.…”

“…liquid-solid TENG with solution-tube-based structure through the volume effect and solution optimization. [37] Jurado et al researched the effect of water-dielectric interfaces on the output performance of single electrode liquid-solid TENG for wave energy harvesting. [69] It was found that the TENG fabricated by water-fluorinated ethylene propylene showed the best output performance than other distinct hydrophobic materials.…”

“…[ 36 ] More importantly, through volume effects and solution optimization, an ultra‐high peak power density of 1910 W m −3 was achieved by a liquid‐based TENG. [ 37 ] Meanwhile, the current record of instantaneous energy conversion efficiency of TENG can reach 70.6% by liquid metal electrode. [ 38 ] Meanwhile, the TENG type sensors have the characteristics of high sensitivity and self‐powered.…”

Liquid–Solid Triboelectric Nanogenerator Arrays Based on Dynamic Electric‐Double‐Layer for Harvesting Water Wave Energy

“…These methods can avoid the problems of fully enclosed TENGs for water wave energy harvesting, but the output performance is still relatively low now. [24,29,31,32] In this work, a novel liquid-solid TENG with an asymmetric conuration was designed and fabricated to improve the capability of water wave energy harvesting. This TENG is based on the opposite dynamic EDLs and adopts a new working scheme, which is an innovation compared to previous fully enclosed TENGs and liquid-solid TENGs.…”