Foldable paper based triboelectric nanogenerator for green energy harvesting

As the demand for low-carbon and eco-friendly energy is increasing and the use of wearable devices is soaring, the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), which can economically harvest energy, is in the spotlight. Among many materials, paper is considered a promising substrate and frame material for self-powered TENG due to its high accessibility, flexibility, and biocompatibility. Here, we present a new structure of foldable paper based TENG (FP-TENG) composed of paper and PTFE/Si-rubber. The double-folded FP-TENG generates voltages and currents of 153 V and 2.2 µA, respectively, and shows excellent durability without signal degradation under 5,000 cycles of external force. A watch strap was manufactured with FP-TENG and integrated with an electronic watch pannel to supply power, and several LEDs were turned on. Therefore, FP-TENG is expected to be utilized as a promising eco-friendly energy source for small electronic devices.