This study presents an enhanced tribo‐hygroelectric generator (THEG) capable of efficiently converting mechanical and atmospheric water energies into direct current (DC) power. The device utilizes water‐infused porous cellulose (WIPC) as the active layer, sandwiched between two electrodes with different work functions (e.g., aluminum and copper). Electricity generation originates from the synergistic effects of triboelectric charge excitation and Schottky junction–induced charge separation at the Al/WIPC interface. The hydrogen‐bonded network formed between water molecules and cellulose functional groups establishes an efficient pathway for charge transport, while mechanical compression reduces the Schottky barrier height, enhances carrier density, and lowers internal resistance. As a result, the optimized THEG achieved a peak current of 4.46 mA and a current density of 11.15 A/m 2 , representing a threefold enhancement over the previous sliding‐type design. Although the output voltage of a single cell is modest, a series of 10 cells generated 4.2 V—sufficient to power small electronic devices such as light‐emitting diodes (LEDs), calculators, and DC motors. Moreover, the THEG demonstrated excellent sensing performance for applied pressure and compression rate, exhibiting strong linear correlations (R 2 ≥ 0.99). These findings underscore the potential of THEG as a sustainable and multifunctional platform for sustainable energy harvesting, self‐powered sensing, and practical low‐voltage power applications.
Nguyen et al. (Fri,) studied this question.