A Faraday Cage-Inspired Triboelectric Nanogenerator Enabled by Alloy Powder Architecture for Self-Powered Ocean Sensing

Abstract

Self-powered sensing technologies are increasingly sought for intelligent and autonomous marine environmental monitoring. A Faraday cage-enabled triboelectric nanogenerator (FC-TENG) is developed by incorporating a FeCoCrNiAl alloy powder layer, enabling efficient harvesting of low-frequency mechanical energy. The quasi-enclosed conductive architecture mimics a Faraday cage, effectively confining electrostatic charges and suppressing edge-induced dissipation, thereby enhancing charge retention. Compared to single-metal triboelectric layers, the FC-TENG exhibits 4.86-, 3.57-, and 2.76-fold increases in open-circuit voltage (V_OC, 1276.27 V), short-circuit current (I_SC, 63.69 μA), and transferred charge (Q_SC, 29.55 nC), respectively. Its hydrophobic surface further ensures environmental robustness and stable output under humid conditions. With an optimized load resistance of 60 MΩ, the FC-TENG device achieves a peak power of ~4.08 mW and reliably powers LED arrays and environmental sensors, while enabling efficient energy storage across a wide frequency range. Furthermore, a wave-driven FC-TENG system integrated with wireless communication and visual feedback modules enables real-time marine motion monitoring without external power. This work introduces the Faraday cage–inspired triboelectric device based on microspherical alloy powder, offering enhanced charge retention, humidity tolerance, and dual-mode functionality in power generation and marine wave sensing. The proposed strategy provides a robust and scalable architecture for future self-powered systems operating in harsh environments.

Keywords

Faraday cage effect / FeCoCrNiAl alloy powder / ocean sensors / triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs)

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2025 The Author(s). Energy & Environmental Materials published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Zhengzhou University.