A full-set and self-powered ammonia leakage monitor system based on CNTs-PPy and triboelectric nanogenerator for zero-carbon vessels

With the further development of ammonia as a new energy fuel, it is urgent to develop a sustainable, accurate and low power consumption detection device for ammonia leakage. In this work, a self-powered full-set ammonia leakage monitoring device has been demonstrated, containing power generation system based on a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), ammonia sensing system based on carbon nanotube doped polypyrrole (CNTs-PPy) and signal collecting and transmitting system. This equipment has a good application prospect on NH3-fueled ships. The TENG can harvest mechanical energy of vibration during the engine operation to power the whole sensing system. When the external load resistance is 11 MΩ, the output power density can reach to 59.783 W/m3, powered by a five-layer honeycomb structure inspired triboelectric nanogenerator (V-TENG). The ammonia sensing system has the capability to detect ammonia with a low limit of detection (0.2 ppm), short response time (about 90 s), good selectivity, excellent stability and low cost, revealing the potential application of sensor for monitoring NH3 gas under different conditions. Finally, a bluetooth module is assembled into the device, realizing the wireless transmission from the detection module to the computer terminal. The self-powered and wireless full-set device can achieve the long-term and maintenance-free detection of ammonia leakage during the ocean voyage, which will play an important role in the further application of ammonia energy.