Breaking the Performance-Durability Trade-off in Triboelectric Nanogenerators with a WS ₂ /PVC Composite for Self-Powered Intelligent Systems

The output performance and operational lifetime of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are fundamentally limited by mechanical wear. Here, we report a WS2/PVC composite film that simultaneously enhances triboelectric performance and durability by incorporating monolayer-multilayer hybrid tungsten disulfide (WS2) nanosheets into a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) matrix. The optimized 3 wt % WS2/PVC composite film exhibits a 106.7% higher surface potential than that of pure PVC, 22.2% reduction in the friction coefficient, and 46.8% longer wear life. Leveraging this material, we fabricated a rotating disk-type TENG (RS-TENG), which delivered a peak output of 124 V, 212 μA, and 109 nC, achieving a maximum power of 8.44 mW. The device demonstrated exceptional stability over 36,000 cycles and was capable of rapidly charging a 2200 μF capacitor to 5 V within 45 s. As a practical demonstration, the RS-TENG continuously powered a bicycle light and a cycling computer, highlighting its potential for self-powered intelligent transportation. This work provides a generalizable materials strategy for designing high-performance, long-lifetime TENGs by synergistically enhancing surface charge density and wear resistance.