Water-driven materials could allow battery-free wearable and robotics

Researchers at Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH) and the German Electron Synchrotron (DESY) have developed a novel triboelectric nanogenerator that produces electricity using only water and mechanical pressure within nanoporous silicon. This Intrusion-Extrusion Triboelectric Nanogenerator (IE-TENG) operates by repeatedly forcing water into and out of nanoscale silicon pores, generating electric charges through friction at the interface between the silicon and water. This process mimics everyday static electricity generation but harnesses it efficiently and continuously, achieving an energy conversion efficiency of about nine percent—one of the highest reported for solid–liquid nanogenerators. The technology’s strength lies in its simplicity and sustainability, relying solely on abundant materials—silicon and water—without rare or hazardous components. The researchers engineered silicon structures that are electrically conductive, nanoporous, and hydrophobic to precisely control water movement and ensure stable energy conversion. Potential applications include autonomous, maintenance-free sensor systems for water detection,