Highly robust and efficient metal-free water cup solid-liquid triboelectric generator for mechanical energy harvesting and ethanol detection

Recently, low-frequency mechanical energy harvesters based on solid-liquid contact electrification have garnered widespread attention for their unique advantages in wear resistance, high charge transfer efficiency, and novel insights into electron-ion interactions at the solid-liquid interface, particularly in material identification. Hence, we designed an robust and efficient water cup triboelectric nanogenerator (WC-TENG) that only uses ordinary drinking water and plastic water cups as primary materials, achieving high-efficiency power output while eliminating the need for metal electrodes and effectively addressing the issue of corrosion in generator components. Experimental results indicate that, at an operating frequency of 2 Hz, the WC-TENG generates an open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 249.71 V, a short-circuit current (Isc) of 4.21 uA, and a transferred charge (Qsc) of 188.85 nC. The WC-TENG demonstrates long-term stability and reliability, maintaining stable voltage output over 1500 s. Moreover, the WC-TENG maintains stable performance under high humidity conditions, and its output enhances with increasing temperature, underscoring its robustness and adaptability for diverse environmental applications. Furthermore, the introduction of ethanol disrupts the potential balance at the solid-liquid interface by impeding electron transfer and reducing the WC-TENG's electrical output, but as the ethanol volatilizes, the device gradually returns to its original potential state, demonstrating its potential as a selective ethanol sensor. This design not only advances the development of corrosion-resistant, high-performance energy harvesters but also opens up new possibilities for low-cost, sustainable, and environmentally adaptable sensing technologies.