A Robust Constant-Voltage DC Triboelectric Nanogenerator Using the Ternary Dielectric Triboelectrification Effect

Nowadays, the development of direct current triboelectric nanogenerators (DC-TENGs) is oriented toward practical applications such as real-time efficient harvesting and supplying energy. This demands DC-TENGs with a low loss factor, high energy utilization efficiency, device portability, and output stability. Herein, a constant-voltage DC-TENG (C-DC-TENG) with robust output performance, using the ternary dielectric triboelectrification effect is demonstrated, which gives a crest factor of 1.0082. The key to improving the output charge density is the number of subdivision units, a result of theoretical simulations and experiments of C-DC-TENG. The optimized C-DC-TENG achieves not only an output charge density of 3.902 mC m(-2) per round but also an average power density of 8.77 W m(-2) (3.508 W m(-2) Hz(-1)), which both set a new record for the rotary DC-TENG. Moreover, introducing soft polyester fur enables C-DC-TENG to maintain 100% output without wear after 800 000 cycles. This C-DC-TENG is faultlessly competent for powering 2784 LEDs in series and 25 parallel-connected hygrothermographs continuously. This work provides a promising technique for large-scale clean energy harvesting, accelerating the progress toward practical applications of DC-TENG.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates a constant-voltage DC-TENG (C-DC-TENG) with robust output performance and improved charge density through the ternary dielectric triboelectrification effect. The optimized C-DC-TENG achieves high output charge density and power density, and maintains 100% output after 800,000 cycles. This research provides a promising technique for large-scale clean energy harvesting.