UFO-Shaped Integrated Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Water Wave Energy Harvesting

The triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), which is suitable for low-frequency and high-entropy mechanical energy harvesting, has great advantages in ocean energy collection and potential blue energy applications. The rational structural design can ensure the best working state of TENG in complex marine environment. Herein, an unidentified flying object (UFO) shaped integrated triboelectric energy harvester (U-TENG) is proposed for complex and random ocean wave energy harvesting. The U-TENG is assembled in a vertical structure by combining a coping TENG in a rotational structure and a bottom TENG in a rolling-ball design. The proposed vertically integrated TENG structure can increase the efficiency of space utilization and improve the entirety output performance compared with the single device structure. A sophisticated auxiliary facility has also been pioneerily designed to simulate the ocean waving during the experiment tests. The prepared U-TENG can easily light up dozens of light emitting diodes and power a commercial hygrothermograph at a low operating frequency. This work provides a highly efficient means to the development of high-performance and robust TENG for ocean energy harvesting.