Anaconda-shaped spiral multi-layered triboelectric nanogenerators with ultra-high space efficiency for wave energy harvesting

Summary

Shifting from fossil fuels to clean energy is urgently needed to reduce anthropogenic carbon emissions. The ocean is recognized as an important source of renewable energy (i.e., wave and tidal), yet remains underutilized due to several technical barriers such as low energy conversion efficiency. The triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), which can efficiently convert wave energy into electricity, has emerged as a potential solution. However, the low output performance and space utilization of existing TENGs impede commercial applicability. Here, we design an anaconda-shaped spiral multi-layered triboelectric nanogenerator (ASM-TENG) to overcome those two shortcomings. Benefiting from the tandem structure, compared with conventional TENGs, the ASM-TENG can enhance total power output by 2- to 30-fold with a peak power density at 347 W m⁻³, it can also enlarge the space utilization by 2- to 8-fold up to 93.75%. Our ASM-TENG provides a new strategy to improve the overall performance of TENG, strengthening its commercial applicability and further facilitating the development of ocean renewable energy.