Facile Direct Growth of ZIF-67 Metal–Organic Framework for Triboelectric Nanogenerators and Their Application in the Internet of Vehicles

Metal–organic framework (MOF) materials have become a potential candidate in the field of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). However, the direct utilization of MOFs in TENG device technology is still a relatively obscured area, with only a limited number of reports addressing this topic. Instead, most of the existing literature investigated composite materials that combine MOFs with polymers or binder materials for TENG fabrication. However, this method does not accurately reveal the actual triboelectric properties of MOFs. Consequently, the direct growth of MOFs on conducting substrates poses a significant challenge in realizing the potential of MOFs in TENG devices. This report addresses this gap by employing a simple, cost-effective hydrothermal method for directly growing ZIF-67 on an aluminum (Al) substrate. The utilization of a ZIF-67-based TENG has yielded impressive results, achieving a noteworthy maximum power density of 2.35 W/m2. This TENG has demonstrated practical applications by effectively integrating into intelligent parking systems and providing power to portable electronic devices. Furthermore, the approach employed in this study can be extended to other MOFs which can be directly synthesized on flexible conducting substrates. This research opens up new possibilities for exploring the inherent triboelectric properties of MOFs and their placement within a triboelectric series.