Design of F-ZIF-67/PDMS-based triboelectric nanogenerator for enhanced cathodic protection

Abstract Metal corrosion poses significant economic and safety challenges across industries, necessitating efficient cathodic protection strategies. Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) offers a promising self-powered solution by harvesting ambient mechanical energy. This study presents the design of TENG based on fluorinated ZIF-67/PDMS (F-ZIF-67/PDMS) composites for enhanced cathodic protection of 304 stainless steel (304SS). The present study integrates dual regulation of microstructure and surface energy to synergistically enhance the triboelectric performance. While loading 5 wt.% ZIF-67, the TENG achieved remarkable output performance with an open-circuit voltage of 187.14 V, short-circuit current of 37.46 μA, and transferred charge of 72.54 nC, delivering a peak power of 3.08 mW. When integrated with a cathodic protection system, the TENG significantly reduced the open-circuit potential (OCP) and the corrosion rate. This work advances the integration of MOF-based triboelectric materials with energy harvesting technologies, offering a sustainable approach to mitigating metal corrosion.