HORACE Triboelectric energy harvesting for Mars exploration

The aim of the work has been to develop an efficient and robust turbine demonstrator that can efficiently operate under Mars environmental conditions. A combination of low friction and high inherent triboelectric charge density materials have been integrated into the Triboelectric Generator (TEG) architecture operating under a freestanding mode and including 4 generators. Each generator is compounded by Al+PTFE stator and H-DLC+Al rotor and the complete efficient design has 2 rotors and 4 stators. Then the vessel where the generators are located is pressurized achieving an Earth atmospheric pressure value (1000 mbar) and Mars atmospheric composition (96 % CO2) because the power generation is increasing by 31.84 % in comparison with power generated under Earth atmospheric composition and 98 % under Mars atmospheric pressure. Moreover, the turbine mechanical elements such as blades, sealings, and vessel have been designed, simulated, manufactured, assembled, and tested to achieve the correct operation based on Mars's environmental requirements.