Nodding Duck Structure Multi-track Directional Freestanding Triboelectric Nanogenerator toward Low-Frequency Ocean Wave Energy Harvesting

TLDR

Ocean energy conversion is strategically needed to expand the blue economy, and triboelectric nanogenerators offer a promising way to capture wave energy efficiently. The study develops a nodding duck structure multi‑track freestanding triboelectric‑layer nanogenerator (NDM‑FTENG) for low‑frequency ocean wave energy harvesting. The authors systematically varied track numbers, connection approach, oscillation frequency, and swing amplitude to optimize NDM‑FTENG output, achieving a peak instantaneous power density of 4 W m⁻³ with a single block lighting 320 LEDs. NDM‑FTENG efficiently powers small electronics with stable, durable performance in real waves, and its power can be scaled by paralleling multiple units into a network for large‑scale blue energy harvesting.

Abstract

Development of ocean energy conversion technique is a strategic requirement to optimize the energy structure and expand the "blue economic" space. Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) provides a potential approach for efficiently capturing wave energy with its unique advantages. Herein, a nodding duck structure multi-track freestanding triboelectric-layer nanogenerator (NDM-FTENG) is developed for ocean wave energy harvesting at a low-frequency range. Configuration parameters including track numbers, connection approach, oscillation frequency, and swing amplitude on electrical output performances of NDM-FTENG are systematically investigated and optimized; the maximum instantaneous power density of 4 W/m3 is obtained by one NDM-FTENG block with 320 LEDs lighted up simultaneously. Overall, NDM-FTENG is proved to be an efficient device for driving small electronics with excellent stability and durability in a real water wave environment, and the power potential can be further magnified by combining more NDM-FTENG devices in parallel to form a network toward large-scale blue energy harvesting.