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A self-powered soft triboelectric-electrohydrodynamic pump

Author

Listed:
  • Fangming Li

    (Dalian Maritime University)

  • Shuowen Sun

    (Dalian Maritime University)

  • Xingfu Wan

    (Dalian Maritime University)

  • Minzheng Sun

    (Dalian Maritime University)

  • Steven L. Zhang

    (Georgia Institute of Technology
    Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems)

  • Minyi Xu

    (Dalian Maritime University
    Huangpu District)

Abstract

Soft pumps have the potential to transform industries including soft robotics, wearable devices, microfluidics and biomedical devices, but their efficiency and power supply limitations hinder prolonged operation. Here, we report a self-powered triboelectric-electrohydrodynamic pump, which combines a soft electrohydrodynamic pump driven by an electrostatic generator, specifically a triboelectric nanogenerator. The triboelectric nanogenerator collects ambient energy and converts it into high-voltage power source, allowing it to self-power an electrohydrodynamic pump and thus eliminating the need for external power supply. Using power management circuit, geometric shape optimization, and stacking methods, we achieve a maximum pressure of 4.49 kPa and a maximum flow rate of 502 mL/min. We demonstrate the pump’s versatility in applications such as self-powered soft actuators, oil pumping in microfluidics, and oil purification. The triboelectric-electrohydrodynamic pump holds promising applications, and offers new insights for the development of fully self-powered systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Fangming Li & Shuowen Sun & Xingfu Wan & Minzheng Sun & Steven L. Zhang & Minyi Xu, 2025. "A self-powered soft triboelectric-electrohydrodynamic pump," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-56679-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56679-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Guorui Li & Xiangping Chen & Fanghao Zhou & Yiming Liang & Youhua Xiao & Xunuo Cao & Zhen Zhang & Mingqi Zhang & Baosheng Wu & Shunyu Yin & Yi Xu & Hongbo Fan & Zheng Chen & Wei Song & Wenjing Yang & , 2021. "Self-powered soft robot in the Mariana Trench," Nature, Nature, vol. 591(7848), pages 66-71, March.
    2. Vito Cacucciolo & Jun Shintake & Yu Kuwajima & Shingo Maeda & Dario Floreano & Herbert Shea, 2019. "Stretchable pumps for soft machines," Nature, Nature, vol. 572(7770), pages 516-519, August.
    3. Daniela Rus & Michael T. Tolley, 2015. "Design, fabrication and control of soft robots," Nature, Nature, vol. 521(7553), pages 467-475, May.
    4. Li, Yunfei & Ma, Xin & Tang, Tianyi & Zha, Fusheng & Chen, Zhaohui & Liu, Huicong & Sun, Lining, 2022. "High-efficient built-in wave energy harvesting technology: From laboratory to open ocean test," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
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