Transparent triboelectric nanogenerator-induced high voltage pulsed electric field for a self-powered handheld printer

Wind energy, considered as one of the most promising clean and sustainable energy sources, has drawn more and more attraction. Here we first designed and fabricated a self-powered printer system consisting of a transparent wind-driven triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) serving as a power supply unit and a handheld printer as an output unit. The wind-driven TENG can generate an output voltage, a short-circuit current and a power up to 130 V, 15 mu A and 2 mW, respectively. An electric field is obtained by applying a rectified voltage signal which is generated from the TENG between the substrate electrode and the syringe, compelling the charged ink droplet falling down onto the printing substrate. Additionally, the handheld printer system can realize color printing as well as printing conductive circuit by scavenging mouth-blown wind energy. The self-powered printer not only realizes the transition from TENG in lab into practical applications, but also provides an innovative idea of mobile devices without an electric power supply.