Facile and robust hybrid TENG for harvesting wind energy and water flow energy

Abstract

The ocean contains a vast source of energy, and triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are emerging as a promising technology for its harvesting. Here, we report a facile-fabricated, robust hybrid TENG (H-TENG) designed to simultaneously harvest wind and water flow energy. The device, fabricated using 3D and electronic design automation (EDA) technologies, comprises an upper wind-driven unit (WH-TENG) and a lower water flow-driven unit (WFH-TENG). WH-TENG utilizes rabbit fur to achieve a high short-circuit current (I_sc) of 14.8 µA and a peak power of 3.54 mW, demonstrating exceptional durability by retaining 92% of its initial charge transfer (130.9 nC) after seven weeks. WFH-TENG, designed for simple preparation and integration, delivers a peak power of 1.13 mW. As a practical application, the integrated H-TENG successfully powers a water level alarm within 150 s. This work demonstrates a viable strategy for multi-energy harvesting in marine environments, paving the way for the long-term and comprehensive utilization of ocean energy.