Upcycling Medical Tablet Blister Waste into High-Performance Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Sustainable Energy Harvesting

Abstract

The increasing accumulation of medical waste, especially discarded pharmaceutical blister packs, poses both environmental risks and missed opportunities for resource recovery. In this work, we demonstrate, for the first time, the direct upcycling of tablet blister waste into a potential frictional layer in triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). The polymer structure of blister packs, combined with Silicone rubber as a counter frictional layer, enabled the fabrication of durable TENG devices (TS-TENGs). Systematic electrical testing revealed that the TS-TENG achieved an open-circuit voltage of approximately 300 V, a short-circuit current of about 40 μA, and a peak power density of 3.54 W/m2 at an optimal load resistance of 4 MΩ. The devices maintained excellent stability over 10,000 mechanical cycles, confirming their durability. Practical demonstrations included powering 240 LEDs, four LED lamps, and portable electronic devices, such as calculators and hygrometers, through capacitor charging. This study shows that not only can tablet blister waste be used as a triboelectric material but it also presents a sustainable method to reduce pharmaceutical waste while advancing self-powered systems. The approach offers a scalable and low-cost means to integrate medical waste management with renewable energy technologies.