Liquid-based nanogenerator fabricated by a self-assembled fluoroalkyl monolayer with high charge density for energy harvesting

Liquid-based triboelectric nanogenerators (L-TENGs) have been considered as a promising tool to utilize clean energy. Here, we reported a tubular L-TENG (TL-TENG) based on fluoroalkyl monolayermodified silica. It exhibited excellent electric output with an output voltage of 101.5 V, peak power density of 43.0 mW m(-2), and surface charge density of 500.3 mC m(-2). The electric output could be modulated by the thickness of the dielectric layer, types of liquid, and oscillation frequency, which was reasonably explained by our equivalent capacitor model. The hydrophobic fluoroalkyl monolayer could promote the electron transfer, and the dielectric layer could inhibit the leakage current perpendicular to the surface, both leading to the enhancement of electric output. A wearable TL-TENG was finally demonstrated to harvest body motion energy and power lighting devices efficiently. This kind of TL-TENG possesses great potential in the fields of energy harvesting and self-powered wearable devices in the wild.