An octave box inspired energy regularization triboelectric nanogenerator for highly efficient wave energy harvesting†

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) show great potential for wave energy harvesting. However, the low frequency and chaotic nature make it difficult for TENGs to generate stable electrical outputs, posing challenges for directly powering electronics and designing universal power management circuits. Inspired by the consistent and steady energy output of octave boxes, we propose a novel energy regularization triboelectric nanogenerator (ER-TENG). Chaotic wave energy is temporarily stored in coil springs by one-way bearings and then converted into a controlled rotation to drive TENGs through the synergistic effect of a gear set and a centrifugal speed limiter. The relationship between the rotational speed and the configuration of the gear set/centrifugal speed limiter is investigated to optimize the mechanical transmission efficiency. Moreover, the utilization of ternary dielectric materials and multi-layer stacked units enhances the electro-mechanical conversion efficiency, resulting in an average power density of up to 15.67 W m⁻³. Fast charging of capacitors is achieved through the ER-TENG using a simple power management circuit. In practical applications, the ER-TENG demonstrates the capability to continuously power offshore appliances. This energy regularization strategy enables TENGs to directly output a stable signal, which serves as a significant reference for the development of smart ocean systems.