A Light-Powered Triboelectric Nanogenerator Based on the Photothermal Marangoni Effect

The photothermal Marangoni effect enables direct light-to-work conversion, which is significant for realizing the self-propulsion of objects in a noncontact, controllable, and continuous manner. Many promising applications have been demonstrated in micro- and nanomachines, light-driven actuators, cargo transport, and gear transmission. Currently, the related studies about photothermal Marangoni effect-induced self-propulsion, especially rotational motions, remain focused on developing the novel photothermal materials, the structural designs, and the controllable self-propulsion modes. However, extending the related research from the laboratory practice to practical application remains a challenge. Herein, we combined the photothermal Marangoni effect-induced self-propulsion with the triboelectric nanogenerator technology for sunlight intensity determination. Photothermal black silicon, superhydrophobic copper foam with drag-reducing property, and triboelectric polytetrafluoroethylene film were integrated to fabricate a triboelectric nanogenerator. The photothermal-Marangoni-driven triboelectric nanogenerator (PMD-TENG) utilizes the photothermal Marangoni effect-induced self-propulsion to realize the relative motion between the triboelectric layer and the electrode, converting light into electrical signals, with a peak value of 2.35 V. The period of the output electrical signal has an excellent linear relationship with the light intensity. The accessible electrical signal generation strategy proposed here provides a new application for the photothermal Marangoni effect, which could further inspire the practical applications of the self-powered system based on the photothermal Marangoni effect, such as intelligent farming.

Automated summary

The photothermal Marangoni effect is crucial for direct light-to-work conversion and self-propulsion. Researchers combined this effect with the triboelectric nanogenerator technology to determine sunlight intensity, providing a new application for the photothermal Marangoni effect.