Fluid-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerators- A Review of Current Status and Applications

Abstract

In the last decades, numerous mechanical energy sources have been utilized as primary energies to produce electricity by using diferent energy harvesting technologies, such as electromagnetic, and piezoelectric technologies. Among these mechanical energy sources, fuid fow energy, defned by water fow and airfow energies, is one of the most important and wide-used renewable energy sources, which is available in nature under the form of raindrops, streams, ocean waves and wind energies. Since the frst introduced in 2012 by Wang’s research group, the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has become one of the most vital innovations in harvesting energy technologies. Many TENGs devices have been developed and demonstrated its potential in harvesting fuid fow energy. Here, a review of the fuid-based TENG (F-TENG) is presented, including water-based and air-based, with the fundamental theories, basic mode of operations, its current designs, and application. The development of F-TENG is demonstrated via the divers of design structure, high potential application for power generation, and high sensitivity for self-powered sensing systems. F-TENG shows promising potential for large-scale application, and hybrid with other energy harvesting technologies. Besides, this article also considers the recent difculties which reduce the performance of F-TENG, then presents the ways for improving their efciencies. Finally, this study provides a point of view based on the facing challenge and future development trend of the F-TENG.