Gas-solid triboelectric nanogenerator formed by ionized air for harvesting energy of ionized air

Abstract

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) can harvest a variety of low-frequency natural energies, such as wind, heat, and ocean energy. Existing studies on gas-solid triboelectric nanogenerators (GS-TENGs) predominantly concern the utilization of gas as a mechanical driving medium without modifying the intrinsic properties of the gas itself. In this work, we introduce ionization to convert air into ionized air and integrate it into a GS-TENG. The device was designed based on the electrostatic induction effect, enabling the efficient harvesting of ionized air energy. It achieved significantly enhanced output compared with GS-TENGs utilizing pure air-solid interactions. Its open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current can attain 180 V and 0.5 μA. Ion streams composed of different ions are widely distributed in space and are a potentially utilizable natural energy source. This study offers a novel strategy for collecting ion energy in gaseous spaces. The proposed approach holds promise for future energy solutions in regions with weak solar irradiation, such as deep space and the lunar far side.