Capturing Dissipation Charge in Charge Space Accumulation Area for Enhancing Output Performance of Sliding Triboelectric Nanogenerator

The charge space-accumulation effect is one of most effective strategies to boost output performance of the sliding mode triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) with AC output, by which the shielding layer greatly prevents the air breakdown on the sliding interface and the blank triboarea with charge dissipation on its surface promotes charge accumulation. However, charge dissipation speed depends on the properties of materials and these charges are lost in the air. Herein, a novel strategy is proposed to capture dissipation charge in charge space accumulation area for further enhancing output performance of the sliding TENG. DC output electrodes based on the coupling of triboelectrification and air-breakdown is designed on both sides of the slider to quickly and completely collect the dissipation charge on the stator and accumulated charge on dielectric tribolayer of slider. Hence, the device has multichannel output to improve output charge to 98%. A new recorded average power density of 5.74 W m(-2) Hz(-1), 14 times higher than previously reported, is obtained. The coupling relationship between AC and DC output is systematically studied. This work provides a new idea for improving the output and energy harvesting efficiency of TENGs.

Automated summary

In this study, a novel strategy is proposed to capture dissipation charge for enhancing the output performance of sliding TENG. By designing DC output electrodes based on the coupling of triboelectrification and air-breakdown, the device achieves multichannel output and significantly increases the power density.