Triboelectric Energy Harvesting of the Superhydrophobic Coating from Dropping Water

Abstract

In this paper, the superhydrophobic coating was prepared by spraying the composites of fluorocarbon emulsion and nanosized silica on the conductive glass sheet for the triboelectric energy harvesting from water droplets. The low surface energy of fluorine in the fluorocarbon emulsion and nanosilica renders the coating with the static contact angle and sliding angle of 156.2° and 6.74°, respectively. The conductive aluminum tape was attached on the surface of the superhydrophobic coating to complete the circuit constituted with the aluminum electrode, charged superhydrophobic coating, and the conductive glass sheet. During the contact electrification with the bouncing water droplet, the superhydrophobic coating with the aluminum electrode can obtain the electric energy with an open-circuit voltage of 20 V and short-circuit current of 4.5 μA, respectively. While the control device only produced an open-circuit voltage of 0.2 V. The generated power by one drop was enough to light up 16 commercial LEDs. Results demonstrate that the fluorocarbon/silica composite superhydrophobic coating is potentially a strong candidate for scavenging energy in sliding mode from raindrops.

Adaptive two capacitor model to describe slide electrification in moving water drops

“…However, the electric double layer (EDL) is thought to play a key role; some of the charge from EDL is left behind on the surface as the contact line moves. Many studies have highlighted the potential of this charge separation process in energy harvesting [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] or sensing [29]. Although this phenomenon has been observed qualitatively for years [30] [9], a quantitative understanding of the physical process is required to improve the application.…”

Advances in Polymer Based Composite Coatings

“…Polymer based composite coatings represent an important class of materials for various applications [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ] due to their capabilities to couple the elastic, optical, or wettability properties of the polymers with the mechanical, physical, and chemical properties of metals, dielectrics, or ceramics. Usually, selective chemical or plasma methods are chosen for synthesis or tailoring of the surface properties of polymer based layers.…”

“…Usually, selective chemical or plasma methods are chosen for synthesis or tailoring of the surface properties of polymer based layers. The authors who submitted their latest results to this Special Issue [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ] evidenced the advantages as well as the drawbacks of the following methods used for different coating synthesis procedures: atom transfer radical polymerization technique [ 1 ], electrospraying [ 2 ], radio frequency magnetron sputtering technique [ 3 , 8 ] chemical vapor deposition [ 4 , 6 ], plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition [ 4 ], and high-pressure spray gun [ 7 ]. There is also one particular study on the improvement, experimentally and theoretically, of the blister technique used for measuring of the polymers’ adhesion strength [ 5 ].…”

“…Summarizing, this Special Issue contains eight papers dedicated to synthesis and analysis of mechanical, wettability and physicochemical properties of different kind of polymer based composite coatings [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. It also comprise one review paper which provides an overall insight to all the class of polymer coatings with applications in the marine industry [ 9 ].…”

“…Jiaxuan Niu et al [ 7 ], synthesized fluorocarbon/silica composite layers with superhydrophobic properties for scavenging energy in sliding mode from raindrops. A static contact angle of 156.2°, as well as a sliding angle of 6.74° for the coatings, was measured.…”