Harvesting of flow current through implanted hydrophobic PTFE surface within silicone-pipe as liquid nanogenerator

Abstract

Harvesting of flow current through implanted hydrophobic surface within silicone pipe as liquid nanogenerators where Tap water (TW), and DI water (DIw) as liquid reservoirs to successfully convert induced mechanical energy into electrical energy. Here, we used a commercial PTFE film for the generation of a hydrophobic surface as a source of mechanical energy. The surface roughness of the hydrophobic surface is confirmed using atomic force microscopy, and contact angle analyses. The generation of power through the interaction of TW and DI with inbuilt PTFE in silicone tube is described. The higher output voltage (Voc), and short circuit currents (Isc) were attained through an interaction of TW and DIw with N-PTFE. The lower Voc, and Isc's were produced when DI water interacts with N-PTFE electrode, whereas TW produced higher V_oc and I_sc's, respectively, due to a lack of free mobile ions in DIw than TW. The TW-Sh-TENG and DIw-Sh-TENG are produced the maximum peak-to-peak Voc, and Isc of 29.5 V and 17.4 V and 3.7 μA, and 2.9 μA, respectively. Significant power output enhancement of ~ 300% from TW-Sh-TENG from DIw-N-TENG due to the formation of higher surface roughness and lead to the slipping of water droplets by super-hydrophobicity.