PEDOT:PSS and Ag nanosheet incorporated triboelectric nanogenerator for energy harvesting

Abstract

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have gained significant attention as a promising technology for efficiently capturing ambient mechanical energy, particularly for powering the vast network of devices in emerging smart cities. It can also be used in IoT-based sensors in remote and inaccessible locations, which require ultralow power to operate. This research focuses on the design and fabrication of a simple, spring-assisted, contact-separation mode TENG for energy harvesting applications. The device is fabricated by spin-coating multiple layers of PEDOT:PSS and silver nanosheet (AgNS) dispersion onto a 2.5 × 2.5 cm² ITO-coated glass substrate, which serves as the tribopositive layer, while PTFE is used as the tribonegative material. Comprehensive characterizations, including UV-Vis spectroscopy (confirming AgNS SPR at 469 nm), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) (showing crystalline AgNS), and scanning electron microscope (SEM, indicating good AgNS dispersion within the PEDOT:PSS matrix), were performed. Electrical performance was evaluated under manual finger tapping, yielding a peak open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 232 mV, a peak short-circuit current (Isc) of 782 nA, and a corresponding short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 125 nA/cm². These results demonstrate the successful fabrication of the PEDOT:PSS/AgNS-based TENG and highlight its potential as a sustainable energy harvesting solution for low-power smart devices, IoT nodes, and vibration sensing applications.