Fabrication of Large-Scale Triboelectric Nanogenerators from Recycled Soda Can Aluminum and Face Mask Filters for Sustainable Green Energy

Abstract

Triboelectric Nanogenerators (TENGs) have recently emerged as a promising solution for energy harvesting and conversion. Based on the principles of the triboelectric effect and electrostatic induction, these devices efficiently convert low-amplitude, low-frequency mechanical vibrations into electrical energy. To advance towards affordable commercial products, significant attention has been focused on investigating low-cost, recycled materials with favorable triboelectric properties. In this study, we successfully developed large-area triboelectric nanogenerators with a surface area of 100 cm² using recycled materials. By utilizing soda can shells and dust filter layers from medical masks, the fabricated devices generate high-quality alternating current, achieving open-circuit voltages of up to 20 V and short-circuit currents ranging from 5 to 7.4 µA. Notably, these devices maintain stable performance even after 5,000 excitation cycles. The fabricated triboelectric nanogenerators are well-suited for powering small electronic devices, including commercial light-emitting diodes and various portable electronic gadgets, with potential applications in numerous fields.