Wheel-structured Triboelectric Nanogenerators with Hyperelastic Networking for High-Performance Wave Energy Harvesting

Abstract

Developing clean and renewable energy sources is an important strategy to reduce carbon emission and achieve carbon neutrality. As one of the most promising clean energy sources, large-scale, and efficient utilization of ocean blue energy remains a challenging problem to be solved. In this work, a hyperelastic network of wheel-structured triboelectric nanogenerators (WS-TENGs) is demonstrated to efficiently harvest low-frequency and small-amplitude wave energy. Different from traditional designs of smooth shell, the external blades on the TENG allow tighter interaction between the wave and the device, which can roll on the water surface like a wheel, continuously agitating internal TENGs. Moreover, the hyperelastic networking structure can stretch and shrink like a spring with stored wave energy, further intensifying the roll of the device, and connecting the WS-TENGs to form a large-scale network. Multiple driving modes with synergistic effects can be realized under wave and wind excitations. Self-powered systems are fabricated based on the WS-TENG network, showing the capability of the device in real wave environment. The work provides a new driving paradigm that can further enhance the energy harvesting capability toward large-scale blue energy utilization based on TENGs.

Keywords: energy harvesting; hyperelasticity; triboelectric nanogenerators; wave energy; wheel structure.