The cut-paper-based self-charging power unit (PC-SCPU) is capable of simultaneously harvesting and storing energy from body movement by combining a paper-based triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) on a teflon substrate (FEP) and a supercapacitor (SC). With paper as substrate, an ultralight rhombic-shaped TENG was achieved with highly specific mass/volume charge output of 82 nC g–1/75 nC cm–3) 15fold more than traditional acrylic-based TENGs. A supercapacitor of ∼1 mF was charged to ∼1 V within in minutes.

CAS news release, April 12, 2017