A Forest-Based Triboelectric Energy Harvester

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are a new class of energy harvesting devices that have the potential to become a dominating technology for producing renewable energy. The versatility of their designs allows TENGs to harvest mechanical energy from sources like wind and water. Currently used renewable energy technologies have a restricted number of materials from which they can be constructed, such as metals, plastics, semiconductors, and rare-earth metals. These materials are all non-renewable in themselves as they require mining/drilling and are difficult to recycle at end of life. TENGs on the other hand can be built from a large repertoire of materials, including materials from bio-based sources. Here, a TENG constructed fully from wood-derived materials like lignin, cellulose, paper, and cardboard, thus making it 100% green, recyclable, and even biodegradable, is demonstrated. The device can produce a maximum voltage, current, and power of 232 V, 17 mA m(-2), and 1.6 W m(-2), respectively, which is enough to power electronic systems and charge 6.5 g capacitors. Finally, the device is used in a smart package application as a self-powered impact sensor. The work shows the feasibility of producing renewable energy technologies that are sustainable both with respect to their energy sources and their material composition.

Automated summary

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are a new type of energy harvesting devices that can extract energy from mechanical sources such as wind and water. Compared to current renewable energy technologies, TENGs offer more versatile material options for construction, making them more sustainable and environmentally friendly.