Sustainable energy from nature: Biocompatible next-generation triboelectric nanogenerators and waste-recycling approach

Abstract

This study presents the first-ever use of low-cost, biocompatible poppy seeds as flexible electrodes for the fabrication of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), offering a novel approach to sustainable energy harvesting. A flexible poppy-seed based TENG (P-TENG) is developed to efficiently convert human motion into electrical energy, demonstrating its potential for powering small electronics and motion sensing. The P-TENG exhibits notable electrical performance, with an open-circuit voltage (V_oc) of 250 V, short-circuit current (I_sc) of 49.7 μA, and a maximum power density of 341.6 mW/m². Additionally, a waste-to-energy strategy is employed by repurposing plastic packaging waste from package of poppy seeds as a tribo-negative layer, resulting in an eco-friendly TENG with a V_oc of 27.04 V and I_sc of 4.67 μA. This study not only introduces an innovative use of natural materials for clean energy generation but also integrates waste recycling, contributing to the advancement of sustainable and environmentally friendly energy solutions. These findings highlight the potential of biodegradable and recycled materials in next-generation wearable and self-powered electronic devices.