Rationally patterned electrode of direct-current triboelectric nanogenerators for ultrahigh effective surface charge density

Abstract

As a new-era of energy harvesting technology, triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has been invented to convert randomly distributed mechanical energy into electric power for Internet of Things (IoTs) and artificial intelligence (AI) applications. Enhancement of the triboelectric charge density is crucial for its large-scale commercialization. Here, a microstructure-designed direct-current TENG (MDC-TENG) with rationally patterned electrode structure is presented to enhance its effective surface charge density by increasing the efficiency of contact electrification, which achieves a record high charge density of ~5.4 mC m-2 (more than 2 times of the best value reported). The MDC-TENG realizes both the miniaturized device and high output performance. Meanwhile, its effective charge density can be further improved as the device size increases. Our work not only provides a miniaturization strategy of TENG for the application in IoTs and AI as energy supply or self-powered sensor, but also presents a paradigm shift of the large-scale energy harvesting by TENGs.

Electrode materials for stretchable triboelectric nanogenerator in wearable electronics

“…However, in a TENG electrostatic breakdown between triboelectric materials leads to the formation of DC. Zhao et al 89 developed a DC TENG based on rationally patterned Cu and stainless steel (SS) microwires to get enhanced output ( Fig. 12 ).…”

Active resonance triboelectric nanogenerator for harvesting omnidirectional water-wave energy

“…In addition, although electromagnetic generators have been developed as the mainstream of mechanical energy harvesting technology, the high price, bulky volume, and poor harvesting efficiency in the low frequency make it unsuitable to harvest ocean-wave energy in large scale. 3 Based on the merits of low price, 4 low weight 5,6 and high efficiency in low frequency, 3,7 triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has been developed as self-powered sensor, [8][9][10] micro/nano energy, [11][12][13][14][15] and high-voltage source. 16 Meanwhile, TENG has been considered as one of the most effective technologies for large-scale ocean-wave energy harvesting.…”

Surface Plasmon Effect Dominated High-Performance Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture

“…However, the TENGs still have the disadvantage with low power density, which stumble its development into commercialization. Researches show that the power density of TENGs can be enhanced by surface micro/nanostructures [5][6][7][8] and chemical and physical modification [9][10][11][12][13][14], but the weakness of that is the surface charge density decays rapidly; also, complexity operation influences the efficiency of enhancing the output performance for TENGs [15][16][17][18]. The method of nanoparticles doping [19][20][21][22][23][24], which mixes high-dielectric nanoparticles (metal nanoparticles) into the triboelectric layer, is a conventional method to enhance the output power of TENG.…”