Leaf-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerators

With the increasing practice of using low-powered devices for a wide range of applications, there is a growing interest in developing power-generating devices that may output low power density but would do so reliably and operate for a long duration. Triboelectric Nanogenerators (TENGs) are a type of such device that can convert residual mechanical energy common in nature into electrical energy that can be stored and used for powering electronic devices. Here, we report the development of leaf-based TENGs (L-TENGs) with the goal of creating fully bio-based power-generating devices. We optimized the power output of L-TENGs by varying various parameters such as leaves from various locally available trees, chemical treatment of the leaves, counter contact materials, operational frequencies, and type of electrodes. An optimized L-TENG with graphite electrodes resulted in the devices with 8 V open circuit voltage output and 0.8 uA short circuit current, with a total power density of approximately 89.5uW/m². The development of power-generating devices such as L-TENGs we report demonstrates the potential of using biological materials as eco-friendly and sustainable sources for electronic devices.