Enhanced of ZIF-8 and MXene decorated triboelectric nanogenerator for droplet energy harvesting

In the field of droplet energy harvesting, the Triboelectric Nanogenerator (TENG) has garnered widespread attention as a promising strategy for harnessing energy from low-frequency and irregular movements. However, the energy conversion efficiency of traditional TENG is largely limited by the performance of the triboelectric materials. The commonly used polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) triboelectric material suffers from issues such as poor electron capture and transport capabilities. Modifying PDMS can enhance the TENG efficiency in capturing droplet energy. Here, a new method for improving the triboelectric performance of PDMS through the synergistic structure of zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) and MXene. Compared to unmodified PDMS, the modified triboelectric material exhibits significantly enhanced dielectric constant and triboelectric performance. The composite material modified with MXene and ZIF-8 was assembled into a TENG (PZM-TENG). Under optimal testing conditions, the Open-Circuit Voltage (Voc) and Short Circuit Current (Isc) of PZM-TENG increased by 46 and 26 times, respectively. PZM-TENG, by capturing droplet energy, can directly power LED light panels and calculators. Furthermore, a self-powered cathodic protection system based on PZM-TENG was designed to demonstrate its potential for eco-friendly anti-corrosion. This research has the potential to promote the largescale application of efficient droplet energy harvesting.