Triboelectric nanogenerators based on fluorinated wasted rubber powder for self-powering application

We report a new high output triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) based on the contact-separation mode using surface fluorinated wasted rubber powder (WRP) as a source material. The WRP-TENG's configuration is designed by serving WRP as negatively charged friction electrode and water assisted oxidized (WAO) Al film as positively charged friction electrode. The open-circuit voltage (V_oc) and short-circuit current density (J_sc) of the WRP based TENGs increase with decrease in the particle size of WRP. More importantly, after surface fluorination of WRP with modifier of trichloro (1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyl) silane (FOTS), the maximum V_oc and J_sc of the WRP based TENG is further increased to 265 V and 75 mA/m², respectively. The FWRP based TENG can drive 100 commercial LEDs directly. In addition, a self-powered hygrothermograph is designed, showing great potential application in daily life. The advantages such as simple fabrication process, low cost, and stability of this TENG make it a promising design for an energy harvesting device or for self-powered electronics. Furthermore, it presents a significant opportunity for the extension of waste utilization.