Microbial Disinfection with Supercoiling Capacitive Triboelectric Nanogenerator

• Published in: Advanced energy materials 2022-04, Vol.12 (15), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Huo, Zheng‐Yang, Lee, Dong‐Min, Jeong, Jang‐Mook, Kim, Young‐Jun, Kim, Jihye, Suh, In‐Yong, Xiong, Peixun, Kim, Sang‐Woo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Deactivation; Disinfection; Electric fields; Electroporation; hand‐powered disinfection; localized electric fields; Microorganisms; Nanogenerators; Nanowires; Oxidation; pathogen inactivation; Power sources; Power supply; Sanitation; triboelectric nanogenerators
• ISSN: 1614-6832; 1614-6840
• DOI: 10.1002/aenm.202103680

Water‐borne diseases resulting from pathogen infection are especially challenges in areas with inadequate sanitation and power supply. Here a novel disinfection system is developed for bacterial and viral inactivation in water using a self‐powered supercoiling‐mediated rotational triboelectric nanogenerator (S‐TENG) as a power source to drive a new oxidation‐assisted electroporation mechanism. Owing to its rational design, the S‐TENG achieves an ultrafast rotation (≈7500 rpm), therefore it enables a simultaneous nanowire‐enhanced localized electric field and generation of oxidative species resulting in high disinfection performance: >99.9999% microbial inactivation at a high flux of 15 000 L h‐1 m‐2. An integrated S‐TENG‐powered disinfection prototype using an enlarged electrode (area of 50 cm2) achieves complete disinfection when the gravity‐driven natural water flows through the whole system at a high rate (1 L min‐1). This rapid, self‐powered water disinfection method is a potential solution for urgent water disinfection needs during disasters and pandemics, and water disinfection in areas with inadequate power supply. A self‐powered microbial disinfection system driven by a supercoiling‐mediated rotational triboelectric nanogenerator (S‐TENG) is demonstrated. Enabling an ultrafast rotation (≈7500 rpm), the S‐TENG achieves a simultaneous nanowire‐enhanced localized electric field and oxidative species generation. The integrated prototype enables >99.9999% microbial inactivation when gravity‐driven water flows at a high flux (15 000 L–1 m–2).