High-performance triboelectric nanogenerator based on 2D graphitic carbon nitride for self-powered electronic devices

Abstract

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are a promising technology for harvesting mechanical energy from various sources. In this work, we report on the fabrication and performance of a TENG device using a 2D graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4)/silicone hybrid film. The synthesis of g-C3N4 was achieved through a low-cost one-step pyrolysis process using urea as the precursor. The TENG device exhibited a high output voltage ∼ 550 V, current ∼ 110 µA, and a power density of about 4.19 W/m2 when paired g-C3N4/silicone with Kapton. Overall, the TENG device exhibited a multi-fold increment in power density compared to previous g-C3N4-based TENGs.