Gravity-Switch-Triggered Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Multi-Directional Wave Energy Harvesting

Abstract

As global energy demands increase, reliance on fossil fuels intensifies environmental and resource pressures, driving the exploration of renewable sources. With its high energy density and potential to meet global energy needs, wave energy attracts significant attention. Despite the abundance of wave energy resources, efficiently harvesting multi-directional wave energy remains challenging. This study introduces a gravity-switch-triggered triboelectric nanogenerator (GS-TENG) designed to enhance the efficiency of wave energy collection. The GS-TENG uses a gravity switch to control circuit connections and disconnections, optimizing the internal structure and experimentally adjusting the number of nylon balls to enhance output performance. In experiments, the GS-TENG demonstrated adaptability to various wave directions and achieved a short-circuit current of 22.2 µA, an open-circuit voltage of 196 V, and a transferred charge of 75 nC under specific conditions. This showcases its superior performance in low-frequency wave energy collection. Additionally, the device successfully lit 100 LEDs in a simulated wave environment, validating its potential for practical applications. The research on GS-TENG provides an effective approach for harvesting wave energy and lays significant theoretical and experimental foundations for further development of wave energy collection technologies.