Breakthrough in Nanotechnology: Indian Researchers Develop Flexible Self-Powered Triboelectric Nanogenerator

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Indian researchers have made a significant discovery in the field of nanotechnology by developing a flexible self-powered triboelectric nanogenerator (FTENG) based on TiCT MXene-carbon nanotubes. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize the development of nanogenerators, tribotronics, and various electronic devices. The FTENG produces an output voltage of 47.6 V, which is greater than that of the pure carbon nanotube-based TENG.

Key Takeaways:

  • Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Dhanbad, India, have successfully synthesized MXene from the TiAlC MAX phase using the etching method.
  • The MXene-based FTENG produces an output voltage of 47.6 V, which is higher than the pure carbon nanotube-based TENG.
  • The FTENG is sensitive to varying pH and can be used as a self-powered pH sensor due to the large surface area, energy storage capacity, and dielectric enhancement of MXene.
  • The dielectric constant of the MXene-multiwalled carbon nanotube is 66.54, while that of pristine carbon nanotubes is 18.06.
  • The research has been peer-reviewed and published in the journal Nanoscale.
  • The study reveals a novel approach for harvesting mechanical energy to fabricate a self-powered pH sensor using TiCT MXene and carbon nanotubes.

Statistics:

  • Output voltage of the MXene-based FTENG: 47.6 V
  • Dielectric constant of MXene-multiwalled carbon nanotube: 66.54
  • Dielectric constant of pristine carbon nanotubes: 18.06
  • Band gap of TiCT MXene: 2.1 eV, according to UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy
  • pH sensitivity of the FTENG: The voltage output changes drastically with varying pH

Sources:

  • NewsRx LLC. Indian Institute of Technology Reports Findings in Carbon Nanotubes (A flexible MXene-carbon nanotube-based triboelectric nanogenerator for self-powered pH sensors). Nanotechnology Weekly. August 4, 2025; p 1654.
  • Royal Society of Chemistry. Nanoscale. (Published by Royal Soc Chemistry, Thomas Graham House, Science Park, Milton Rd, Cambridge CB4 0WF, Cambs, England. www.rsc.org/)
  • Indian Institute of Technology, Dhanbad, 826004, India.