Spent Catalyst-Derived Mo-MOF: Triboelectric Nanogenerators and Energy Harvesting

The spent catalysts discarded during chemical manufacturing can be a source of pollution and are classified as hazardous waste. Looking at the bright sides of the mission of waste management, such as recycling and reducing, reuse such types of the spent catalyst can be chemically treated to extract valuable salts and metals. Such a process not only reduces waste disposal issues but also promotes a circular economy ecosystem. This present study aims to extract MoO3 from the spent petroleum catalyst, Mo-Ni/Al2O3, and further processing of Mo-metal organic framework (MOF) particles using extracted MoO3 and imidazole acting as an organic binder. The structural, morphology, and thermal properties of Mo-MOF are evaluated. The surface roughness and positive surface potential of the Mo-MOF are achieved. The Mo-MOF/Kapton-based triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) generate a 148 V voltage, 470 nA current, and 17 nC charge. Further, TENG is utilized to charge the capacitors, and powering of the electronic devices is demonstrated. The repetition of the boxing punches and exercises can be monitored using TENGs and paves the way toward intelligent sports or healthcare.

Automated summary

The spent catalysts from chemical manufacturing, as hazardous waste, can cause pollution. However, through chemical treatment, valuable salts and metals can be extracted from these catalysts, promoting recycling and reducing waste. This study focuses on extracting MoO3 from spent petroleum catalysts and using it to create Mo-metal organic framework (MOF) particles for triboelectric nanogenerator applications. The Mo-MOF/Kapton-based TENG generates high voltage, current, and charge, enabling it to power electronic devices and monitor repetitive motions for sports or healthcare applications.