Four‐Helix Triboelectric Nanogenerator Based on Wave Amplitude Amplifier

Abstract

Deploying triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) units on and below the water surface has been a conventional method for harvesting wave energy. However, this approach restricts the TENG's amplitude to that of the water waves, limiting the actual offshore output. Here, a new method of placing TENG units above the water surface using a wave amplitude amplifier is reported. This addresses the issue of insufficient amplitude in traditional wave energy TENGs and achieves higher electrical output performance in real offshore conditions. Moreover, the innovative four‐helix TENG (FH‐TENG), designed with special pattern cutting and bridging techniques, eliminates the need for internal wires, foundational frameworks, and counterweights. Results show that FH‐TENG placed on the amplitude amplifier achieves over a 76% increase in amplitude and a 235% enhancement in charge output compared to FH‐TENG floating directly on the water surface, and the maximum output voltage, transferred charge and output current reach 246 V, 7.9 µC, and 156.1 µA, respectively. Importantly, when deployed in real marine environments, this system generates more electric energy than in a lab pool under the same peak wave height, providing a reliable power supply solution. This work establishes a precedent for deploying lightweight wave energy TENGs above the water surface.