Self-powered and speed-adjustable sensor for abyssal ocean current measurements based on triboelectric nanogenerators

The monitoring of currents in the abyssal ocean is an essential foundation of deep-sea research. The state-of-the-art current meter has limitations such as the requirement of a power supply for signal transduction, low pressure resistance, and a narrow measurement range. Here, we report a fully integrated, self-powered, highly sensitive deep-sea current measurement system in which the ultra-sensitive triboelectric nanogenerator harvests ocean current energy for the self-powered sensing of tiny current motions down to 0.02 m/s. Through an unconventional magnetic coupling structure, the system withstands immense hydrostatic pressure exceeding 45 MPa. A variable-spacing structure broadens the measuring range to 0.02–6.69 m/s, which is 67% wider than that of commercial alternatives. The system successfully operates at a depth of 4531 m in the South China Sea, demonstrating the record-deep operations of triboelectric nanogenerator-based sensors in deep-sea environments. Our results show promise for sustainable ocean current monitoring with higher spatiotemporal resolution.

Yuan Chao Pan, Zhuhang Dai, Haoxiang Ma, Jinrong Zheng, Jing Leng, Chao Xie, Yapeng Yuan, Wencai Yang, Yaxiaer Yalikun, Xuemei Song, Chang Bao Han, Chenjing Shang, Yang Yang