Enhanced Area Triboelectric Nanogenerator Utilizing Recycled Single Used Plastic Bubble Wrap and Discarded Sketching Paper Ensuring Circularity of Material

Plastic pollution has become a major environmental challenge globally as millions of tons of plastic waste are entering oceans and landfills every year. The production and usage of plastic has surged due to its low cost and easy availability. This in turn leads to widespread usage of single-use plastics. Plastic waste takes centuries to degrade and when it decomposes, it breaks down into harmful microplastics that pollute the air, soil and water. This pollution of microplastics threatens wildlife, marine life and creates health risks for human beings. Moreover, plastic production and its waste release significant amounts of greenhouse gases which further contribute to climate change. As plastic waste is continuously accumulating in the environment its long-term effects on humans, climate and ecosystem are inevitable. On the other hand, the increased usage of electronic devices has transformed daily life and has raised concerns about the energy consumption of these devices and the generation of e-waste due to disposable batteries. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have emerged as an innovative way to convert mechanical energy into electricity by utilizing frictional forces and vibrations. TENGs can be integrated into wearable electronics which in turn eliminates the need for frequent battery replacement and enhances sustainability. This study presents a low-cost triboelectric nanogenerator made from recycled bubble wrap and sketching paper (BW-TENG). BW-TENG offers an efficient and eco-friendly way to generate energy from common household waste materials. BW-TENG is capable of generating an open circuit voltage (V_oc) of 6.38 V, a short circuit current (I_sc) of 5.9 μA and a maximum output power of 7.84 μW respectively. BW TENG not only ensures the circularity of waste materials but also highlights the cost-effective manufacturing of a lightweight triboelectric nanogenerator.