Two-dimensional chromium telluride-coated 3D-printed architectures for energy harvesting

Rapid development of industries, urbanization, and technological advancements have increased demand for sustainable and cost-effective alternative energy sources. In this work, a self-powered flexible 3D-printed triboelectric nanogenerator coated with 2D chromium telluride (Cr₂Te₃) (3D-TENG) is presented as an innovative energy harvesting approach from pressure and temperature. The optimized flexible 3D-printed hexagonal structures with coatings show varying specific yield strength and porosity. The 3D-TENGs achieved a maximum output voltage of ∼39 V under periodic impacts of ~0.8 kPa and their performance further increased (∼45 V) in the presence of varied temperatures. The outstanding results and flexibility of the 3D-TENG devices highlight their potential in self-powered energy harvesting from external heat, magnetic fields, and body weight. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further explained the interaction between 2D Cr₂Te₃ and the polymer surface under external impact. Therefore, we believe that our findings illustrate the potential of integrating 2D materials with 3D-printed architectures to enhance the efficiency and adaptability of flexible, lightweight, low-cost, and eco-friendly TENG devices for industrial applications.