A High-Performance Triboelectric Nanogenerator Incorporating Solid-State Synthesized ZnTiO ₃ Nanoparticles

The triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is emerging as a sustainable and green energy technology for harvesting electrical energy from mechanical energy. Enhancing the output performance of TENGs is crucial to advancing their practical applications. Doping high dielectric/conductive nanofillers improves the performance of TENGs. Different mol % (0.10–0.75) of ZnTiO3 (ZT) nanoparticles (NPs) were added to the Ecoflex 00-30 polymer to improve the performance of the TENG. ZT NPs increased the dielectric properties of the Ecoflex polymer and enhanced the surface charge density of the triboelectric layer. The output performance of the Ecoflex TENG increased with an increasing ZT concentration in the matrix, and it generated the maximum output at 0.25 mol % ZT NPs. Herein, the ZT NPs were synthesized via a solid-state synthesis method, and Ecoflex composites were prepared via a solution drop-casting method. The materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible, and Fourier transform infrared analyses. The maximum average peak-to-peak voltage (Vpp(avg)) and current (Ipp(avg)) of the ZT@Ecoflex TENG were found to be ∼305 V and ∼275 μA, respectively, at an applied force of 5 N. To further enhance their effectiveness, varying wt % (0.1–0.5) of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were added to the previously optimized ZT@Ecoflex TENG. The nanofiller increased V(pp)avg by ∼2 times and Ipp(avg) by ∼2.5 times at 0.2 wt % MWCNTs and 5 N compared to pristine Ecoflex, and the TENG generated a power density of 0.25 mW cm–2. The fabricated ZT@Ecoflex-based TENG can store electrical energy, illuminate 250 light-emitting diodes, and power up a mini digital calculator. This work provides valuable insights into improving the output performance of TENGs for mechanical energy harvesting and device applications.