In numerous industries, corrosion results in considerable losses. In the marine industry, cathodic protection is often utilized to safeguard steel against corrosion.
Energy harvesting of sponge in road and water transportation Image Credit: Institute of Oceanology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) transform mechanical energy into electricity depending on electrostatic and triboelectrification induction, with TEND cathodic protection adhering to the needs of low-carbon energy conservation.
A research group headed by Professor Xiutong Wang from the Institute of Oceanology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IOCAS) has reported a new TENG composed of highly elastic and pressure-resistance sponge, that is, enhanced Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) sponge TENG.
This TENG has the potential to adapt to forceful effects happening in land and water transportation and could be extended to any shape for harvesting mechanical energy and wave and applied for safeguarding metal, thereby making the metal materials go through a thermodynamic stable state.
The study was reported in the Advanced Functional Materials journal on August 3rd, 2023.
PDMS holds outstanding pressure-resistance potential. In this novel TENG, the PDMS sponge was altered by polydopamine and Ti3C2 nanosheet, the output of which was increased by 236% compared to before enhancement. Besides, polydopamine considerably extends the lifespan of Ti3C2.
The enhanced PDMS sponge could endure hundreds of vehicle passes without damage. Thus, the suggested TENG based on it could be utilized to track wave grade in the simulating wave environment, reflecting the wave grade by output. In addition, a relative monitor software was developed.
We have tried several slat particles as the sacrificial templates for the improved PDMS sponge, and K2HPO4 was most suitable for the 3D interconnected structure. The prepared flexible but strong sponge can harvest energy and act as a force sensor.
Dr. Hui Xu, Study First Author, Imperial College London
“We believe that green and environmentally friendly TENG protection technologies can be truly applied in the sea,” added Prof. WANG, corresponding author of the study.
Journal Reference:
Xu, H., et al. (2023) Flexible Sponge-Based Nanogenerator for Energy Harvesting from Land and Water Transportation. Advanced Functional Materials. https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202304723.