Triboelectric Nanogenerator Powered Electrochemical Degradation of Organic Pollutant Using Pt-Free Carbon Materials

Carbon electrode materials are fabricated from bean curd to replace costly Pt-based electrodes to degrade methyl red (MR) as self-driven by a multilayer linkage triboelectric nanogenerator (ML-TENG). With the sponge as the buffer layer and precharge injection, the peak open-circuit voltage, Voc, short-circuit current, Isc, and maximum power density of the ML-TENG can reach and remain stable at 1300 V, 1.2 mA, and 7.4 W m–2 (load resistance = 500 KΩ), respectively. Using the electric power generated by such an updated TENG, highly toxic and carcinogenic MR can be indirectly degraded to CO2 through an oxidation process induced by active chlorine produced at the as-obtained carbon-based electrode interface. Such an electrochemical degradation mechanism is proposed based on the cyclic voltammogram, gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer, and mass spectrometer. With compelling features of the TENG and carbon materials, such as sustainable energy, high and stable output performance, cost savings, and high degradation efficiency, this work pioneers the marriage of the TENG with carbon-based materials to self-power electrochemical degradation of organic pollutants for environmental protection.