Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are emerging devices with the ability to harvest energy in the environment. Natural biomaterials as friction layers for developing the degradable TENG have attracted considerable attention. However, achieving high electrical output performance and degradability simultaneously in a TENG remains challenging. Herein, we obtained a polylactic acid (PLA)/chitosan/cellulose biodegradable materials from natural shrimp shells and seaweed (reusing the wastes) and fabricated the degradable material based TENG (generating electricity without pollution). The open-circuit voltage (V_OC) of TENG can reach 744 V, which is enhanced 65.7% with the addition of 25 wt.% PLA. Meanwhile, a self-powered agriculture protecting system based on the degradable TENG has been constructed, which has a longer working life time (24 days) than similar degradable TENG and a good degradability (complete degradation in soil within 56 days). A suitable working life time not only efficiently promotes seed germination rate of 19%, and eliminates 97% pest eggs as well, achieving multi-functional long-term maintenance. This work provides a new solution to achieve high electrical output performance for degradable TENG, presenting broad and excellent application prospects for different stages of plant growth.

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) have emerged as a highly promising energy harvesting technology, attracting significant attention in recent years for their broad applications. Gel-based TENGs, with superior stretchability and sensitivity, have been widely reported as wearable sensors. However, the traditional hydrogel-based TENGs suffer from freezing at low temperatures and drying at high temperatures, resulting in malfunctions. In this study, we introduce an anti-freezing eutectogel, which uses a deep eutectic solvent (DES), to improve the stability and electrical conductivity of TENGs in harsh environmental conditions. The eutectogel-based TENG (E-TENG) produces an open-circuit voltage of 776 V, a short-circuit current of 1.54 µA, and a maximum peak power of 1.1 mW. Moreover, the E-TENG exhibits exceptional mechanical properties with an elongation at a break of 476% under tension. Importantly, it maintains impressive performances across a wide temperature range from −18 to 60 °C, with conductivities of 2.15 S/m at −10 °C and 1.75 S/m at −18 °C. Based on the excellent weight stability of the E-TENG sensor, motion sensing can be achieved in the air, and even underwater. Finally, the versatility of the E-TENG can serve as a wearable sensor, by integrating it with Bluetooth technology. The self-powered E-TENG can monitor various human motion signals in real-time and send the health signals directly to mobile phones. This research paves a new road for the applications of TENGs in harsh environments, offering wireless flexible sensors with real-time health signal monitoring capabilities.

With the growing economy and technology, disease prevention and individual health are becoming more and more important. It is highly urgent to develop a non-toxic, self-powered, and safe high-voltage power source to prevent diseases spread by mosquitoes, especially in isolated or remote areas. Herein, we reported a high-performance rotary triboelectric nanogenerator (R-TENG) based on customized theoretical simulations and a ferroelectric nanocomposite intermediate layer. The customized theoretical simulations based on gradient electrode gaps were established to optimize gap angles and segment numbers of the electrodes, which could prevent air breakdown and enhance the R-TENG output energy by at least 1.5 times. Meanwhile, the electrical output performance of the TENG was further enhanced with a highly oriented BaTiO₃ (BTO) nanoparticles intermediate layer by about 2.5 times. The open-circuit voltage of R-TENG reached more than 6 kV and could continuously light 3420 light-emitting devices (LEDs) or 4 serially connected 36 W household fluorescent lamps. Therefore, a self-powered high-voltage disease prevention system is developed based on the high-performance R-TENG to reduce the risk of disease transmission. This work provides a prospective strategy for the further development of TENGs and expands practical applications of self-powered and high-voltage systems.