CCTO–TiO2 nanoparticle composite based PVA/PTFE multilayer triboelectric nanogenerator for energy harvesting and methylene blue (MB) dye degradation

Triboelectric energy harvesters provide a reliable way of transforming mechanical energy obtained from routine bodily functions into electrical energy. In the development of wearable, flexible, and portable electronics as well as self-powered sensor applications, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) present a fascinating alternative to power supply challenges. In this study, we report the synthesis and application of Calcium Copper Titanate (CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂, (CCTO)) and its Titanium Dioxide (TiO₂)-modified composites for high-performance triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). CCTO and its variants 5T-CCTO and 10T-CCTO were synthesized using a modified sol-gel fuel combustion method, and their structural and chemical properties were confirmed through XRD, FTIR, XPS, and FESEM analysis. A multilayer contact-separation TENG was fabricated using the synthesized composites dispersed in a PVA matrix as the tribo-positive layer and a PTFE/rGO film as the tribo-negative layer. In comparison to the PVA/PTFE TENG device, systematic investigation revealed that incorporating CCTO and its TiO₂-modified composites as fillers (10 and 20 weight percent) significantly enhanced the short circuit current and power by 37.7 and 12.7 fold, respectively. Furthermore, the practical utility of the TENG was demonstrated by integrating it into a Fenton reaction for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye. The TENG-assisted Fenton process achieved 98.5% degradation of MB within 60 minutes, marking an approximately 20% increase in the reaction rate constant, indicating significantly faster degradation kinetics compared to the conventional Fenton reaction. This work highlights the potential of CCTO-based composites for developing efficient TENGs for self-powered environmental remediation systems.