Crystallization-Induced Shift in a Triboelectric Series and EvenPolarity Reversal for Elastic Triboelectric Materials

A stretchable triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG)can be a promising solution for the power supply of variousflexibleelectronics. However, the detailed electrification mechanism ofelastic triboelectric materials still needs to be clarified. In this work,we found crystallization behavior induced by strain and lowtemperature can lead to a shift in a triboelectric series forcommonly used triboelectric elastomers and even reverse thetriboelectric polarity. This effect is attributed to the notablerearrangement of surface electron cloud density happening alongwith the crystallization process of the molecular chain. This effectis significant with natural rubber, and silicone rubber canexperience this effect at low temperature, which also leads to ashift in a triboelectric series, and an applied strain at low temperature can further enhance this shift. This study demonstrated thatthe electrification polarity of triboelectric materials should be re-evaluated under different strains and different temperatures, whichprovides a mechanism distinct from the general understanding of elastic triboelectric materials

Automated summary

This study reveals that strain and low temperature can induce crystallization behavior in elastic triboelectric materials, leading to a shift in triboelectric series and electrification polarity. Natural rubber exhibits a significant effect, and an applied strain at low temperature can further enhance this shift.