Triboelectric nanogenerator based on degradable materials for efficient self-powered seed growth promotion system

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are emerging devices with the ability to harvest energy in the environment. TENG usually consists of electrode and polymer layer, and the electrode could use the recyclable materials. However, the polymers commonly used in TENG, such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), Kapton, and so on, which are difficult to degrade completely and prone to release dangerous chemicals in the natural environment. Due to the abundant sources, low cost, and biodegradability, 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.

Professors Li Xiaoyi from the Ocean University of China, along with other researchers, obtained a polylactic acid/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 744V, 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 promote seed germination rate of 19%, and eliminate 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.

The researchers published their research in Nano Research on July 7, 2025.

In this work, a polylactic acid/chitosan/cellulose (PLA/CS/Cellulose) composite film was obtained as a friction layer material of high electrical output performance TENG. The TENG has both high electric output and degradable. A high-voltage self-powered system based on PLA/CS/Cellulose TENG (PCC-TENG) as an energy harvesting devices has been constructed for agriculture, experiment results show that the high-voltage self-powered system have excellent effect on promoting seed germination and eliminating pest eggs. This research significantly expands the potential applications of degradable TENG and offers an effective method for agriculture production. The novelty of this work is primarily exhibited through the following aspects:

1. Novel and efficiency degradable composite material. The novel PLA/CS/Cellulose degradable composite material directly from natural shrimp shells and seaweed, which have long working life time (24 days) and excellent degradation performance (completely degradable in soil within 56 days). The application of degradable materials reused the wastes, at the same time, the TENG made of degradable composite materials generates electricity without polluting the environment.
2. High performance TENG based on degradable materials. The voltage reached 744 V with the addition of PLA, which increases by 67%. The performance of our degradable TENG is one of the best similar degradable TENG (degradable material as negative friction layer).
3. Application of biodegradable TENG in agriculture. The biodegradable TENG has been used for promoting seed growth and killing pests, achieving multi-functional long-term maintenance. On the one hand, the high voltage generated by TENG can increase the germination rate by 19%. On the other hand, the current excited by TENG and related management circuits for killing pest eggs, and the killing rate is as high as 97%.

The research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.52472307, No.52331004), Sinopec Technology Development Project (325008), Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation (ZR2024YQ041), Taishan Scholars of Climbing Plan (No. tspd20230603), Joint Funds of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. U2106216), Key R&D Program of Shandong Province (No. 2023ZLGX05, No. 2023CXGC010406).

About the Authors

Dr. Xiaoyi Li is a professor and doctoral supervisor at the School of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China. He is also a member of the first tier of the Young Talent Project at Ocean University of China. His research primarily focuses on triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) in the domains of micro-nano energy harvesting and self-powered systems, as well as the marine applications of TENG technology. Professor Li has led and contributed to several national and provincial-level projects. To date, he has published over 40 papers in prestigious international journals such as Advanced Materials, Energy & Environmental Science, Advanced Functional Materials, Nano Energy, ACS Nano, and Nano Research. His work has been cited more than 3,030 times, with an H-index of 29 (Web of Science). For more information, please pay attention to his research homepage https://mse.ouc.edu.cn/2020/0501/c32459a495269/page.htm.

About Nano Research

Nano Research is a peer-reviewed, open access, international and interdisciplinary research journal, sponsored by Tsinghua University and the Chinese Chemical Society, published by Tsinghua University Press on the platform SciOpen. It publishes original high-quality research and significant review articles on all aspects of nanoscience and nanotechnology, ranging from basic aspects of the science of nanoscale materials to practical applications of such materials. After 18 years of development, it has become one of the most influential academic journals in the nano field. Nano Research has published more than 1,000 papers every year from 2022, with its cumulative count surpassing 7,000 articles. In 2024 InCites Journal Citation Reports, its 2024 IF is 9.0 (8.7, 5 years), and it continues to be the Q1 area among the four subject classifications. Nano Research Award, established by Nano Research together with TUP and Springer Nature in 2013, and Nano Research Young Innovators (NR45) Awards, established by Nano Research in 2018, have become international academic awards with global influence.