A medical waste X-ray film based triboelectric nanogenerator for self-powered devices, sensors, and smart buildings

Abstract

The increase of plastic waste on the Earth and its associated environmental pollution is a major concern for humankind. The reuse of plastic waste for energy harvesting not only reduces environmental pollution but also generates electricity. In this study, we have used medical plastic waste, such as X-ray films, to fabricate a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) for the first time. The proposed TENG produced an output voltage, current, and instantaneous power density of 201 V, 62.8 μA, and 1.39 W m⁻², respectively. It can easily power up 240 red LEDs directly and other portable electronic devices with a charged capacitor. The fabricated TENG was further used as a smart switch in selecting various services provided in smart buildings (hospitals/hotels). Additionally, we were able to create self-powered indicator displays and force sensors through this technology. The current results highlight the potential of using medical waste to create energy-harvesting devices and suggest that this approach can be extended to utilize other plastic waste materials such as saline bottles and gloves for TENGs.