Tensegrity triboelectric nanogenerator for broadband blue energy harvesting in all-sea areas

The integration of high-density friction layer units is a promising approach for achieving high output in triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). Yet, the synchronization and sufficient contact separation of these high-density layer units are inherently challenging due to the cumulative impact of gravity. Herein, a tensegrity structure was applied and effectively organized the high-density stacked TENG units into an ordered whole, thereby proposing the T-TENG. Along with achieving orderly contact and separation of high-density friction layers, the T-TENG effectively reduced the device's height (up to 52%) and improved the friction layer surface area density (up to 1.07 cm−1). Significantly, the built-in prestress modulation not only enhances the device's load-bearing capacity but also enables ease in changing the T-TENG's response frequency by adjusting the prestress value. This is especially suitable for efficiently capturing omnidirectional wave energy in all-sea areas with frequency variations. The working mechanism and output influencing parameters of T-TENG were systematically expounded, and it demonstrated a maximum output voltage of up to 1020 V and output charge per unit time of 0.816 mC/min, sufficient to light up to 1512 LEDs directly. Moreover, customization of low-loss gas discharge tubes to amplify outputs allows T-TENG to harvest wave energy for power supply to small electronic devices such as water quality testing pens and Bluetooth modules when placed over water bodies. This work provides a foundational model to develop high-density friction layers and high-output TENGs.