Engineering Triboelectric Paper for Energy Harvesting and Smart Sensing

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) represent a promising technology for energy harvesting and self-powered sensing with a wide range of applications. Despite their potential, challenges such as the need for cost-effective, large-area electrodes and engineering sustainable triboelectric materials remain, especially given the impending restrictions on single-use engineering plastics in Europe. To address these challenges, engineering nano-graphite-coated paper is presented as a sustainable and high-performance alternative for triboelectric layers. Moreover, this material, which can be produced on an industrial scale, offers a viable replacement for metal electrodes. The combination of nano-graphite and paper, with its large contact area and inherent surface roughness, enables ultra-high power densities exceeding 14 kW m