Triboelectric nanogenerator based on pile-type oscillating float structure for wave energy harvesting

The surging ocean waves contain enormous energy and are one of the most promising renewable energy sources. In order to enhance the motion response of the triboelectric nanogenerator in a wave environment, the paper proposes a triboelectric nanogenerator based on a pile-type oscillating float structure for collecting wave energy, so that it can be installed on steel piles on offshore platforms to provide a steady power supply. Due to the movement of the float and the waves, the contact of the independent layer power generation structure of the grid electrode is insufficient. To solve the problem, the study adopts the electrode form with a spring elastic support structure, which significantly improves the wave energy collection capacity. The OF-TENG experiment provides a peak rectified short-circuit current of 35.88 μA, a peak power of 5.02 mW, and an average power of 1.724 mW. At the same time, in the water flume wave simulation experiment, the 1 mF capacitor was charged to 5V within 546.64s, successfully realizing the data transmission of the temperature and humidity sensor and powering the marine navigation indicator light, verifying the feasibility and practicality of the device as a power source. The study provides a practical approach for efficient wave energy harvesting and multifunctional applications.