# Multifunctional Sponge-like Biochar@ZnO Nanorods Material: Applications in Triboelectric Nanogenerators to Enhance Photocatalysis

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a sustainable TENG device using a biochar@ZnO composite that efficiently harvests energy and aids in degrading pollutants.

## Contribution

A novel TENG using eco-friendly biochar@ZnO nanorods is developed, showing enhanced photocatalytic performance and energy harvesting.

## Key findings

- The TENG achieved a power density of 35.11 mW.m–2 and output voltage of 7.6 V.
- The device degraded methylene blue with 42% efficiency in 2 hours using two TENG units.
- The TENG successfully charged a 1000 μF capacitor within 4 hours.

## Abstract

Triboelectric nanogenerators
(TENGs) have emerged as
promising
devices for harvesting mechanical energy and enhancing photocatalytic
processes, offering innovative pathways toward sustainable technologies.
In this study, we report the fabrication of a TENG using environmentally
friendly materials. A sponge-like biochar@ZnO nanorods (NRs) composite,
synthesized via pyrolysis followed by chemical bath deposition, served
as the positive dielectric material, while a PDMS@GO composite formed
the negative dielectric layer. The resulting device achieved a power
density of 35.11 mW.m–2, an output voltage of 7.6
V, a load resistance of 47 MΩ, and a current of 0.16 μA.
The TENGs demonstrated excellent reproducibility, delivering consistent
voltage outputs across triplicate measurements, and successfully charged
a 1000 μF capacitor within 4 h. Beyond energy harvesting, the
TENG was integrated into a photocatalytic system to evaluate its performance
in degrading methylene blue (MB). When two TENG units were employed,
the degradation efficiency reached 42% within 2 h, confirming the
synergistic interaction between the TENG’s energy-harvesting
mechanism and photocatalysis. These findings demonstrate not only
the feasibility of employing sustainable materials in TENG fabrication,
in line with circular economy principles, but also the potential of
TENG-assisted photocatalysis as a multifunctional strategy for both
renewable energy conversion and environmental remediation.