Investigation and Fabrication of Triboelectric base Nanogenerators for Energy Harvesting Applications

Abstract

The increased need for renewable and sustainable energy sources has led to the idea of the Triboelectric Nanogenerators (TENGs), which are considered one of the promising sources of energy that can be converted into electricity at low frequencies. This article reports the design synthesis and fabrication of a compact, high-performing TENG using a composite high-surface-area polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber with zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8), a metal-organic framework (MOF) that exhibits structural discretion. The production of ZIF-8 was based on a solvothermal approach, utilizing zinc nitrate and 2-methylimidazole in methanol. The output of PAN nanofibers was achieved through the electrospinning process. A vertical contact- separation mode TENG was developed using the PAN@ZIF-8 composite as a tribo- positive layer and polyethylene terephthalate (PET & Teflon) as the tribo-negative layer. XRD, SEM, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis, and IV were conducted to characterize the materials. The crystallinity of ZIF-8 was established through the XRD, whereas Raman and FTIR spectra ratified the Zn-N bonding and the integrity of the functional groups. UV-Visible analysis gave a broad optical bandgap of 5.04 eV. The TENG-fabricated device produced a periodically alternating current in response to mechanical stimulation, making it suitable for energy harvesting. The outcomes suggest the potential use of MOF-polymer composites in enhancing the triboelectric capabilities of the material and its applications in wearable electronic systems, self- powered sensors, and IoT devices.