Earthworm‐Inspired Triboelectric Nanogenerator with O‐Shaped Multilayer Structure for Marine Ranching

Abstract

In view of the characteristics of small wave amplitude, stable direction, and low frequency near marine ranching, an energy‐harvesting device is designed and produced through an O‐shaped multilayer earthworm‐like triboelectric nanogenerator (OME–TENG) to provide a self‐sufficient energy supply for sensors without relying on batteries. Under the same conditions, O‐shaped multilayer TENG structure can carry out a fuller contact‐separation movement due to its unique O‐shaped structure, thus the peak power of the O‐shaped multilayer TENG structure can reach 10.4 mW, which is more than twice that of the Z‐shaped multilayer TENG structure. When the water wave frequency is 0.5 Hz and the wave amplitude is about 7.5 cm, the open‐circuit voltage, short‐circuit current, and transferred charge of the left units of the OME–TENG device can reach 300 V, 25 μA, and 900 nC, respectively, and can directly light up 107 light emitting diode. After rectification and parallel connection, the energy collected by the OME–TENG can easily power a digital hygrograph to monitor marine temperature and humidity. Therefore, the OME–TENG shows great application prospects in the energy supply of marine ranching.