Enhanced Energy Harvesting Performance of Triboelectric Nanogenerators via Dielectric Property Regulation

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs)hold great applicationprospectsand research values in the field of energy harvest. The friction layerof TENGs plays an important impact role in their output performance.Therefore, composition modulation of the friction layer is of greatsignificance. In this paper, the xMWCNT/CS compositefilms with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as a filler and chitosan(CS) as a matrix were prepared and a TENG based on the xMWCNT/CS composite films (xMWCNT/CS-TENG) was constructed.The introduction of the conductive filler MWCNT significantly improvesthe dielectric constant of the films due to the Maxwell-Wagnerrelaxation. As a result, the output performance of the xMWCNT/CS-TENG is greatly enhanced. The best values of an open-circuitvoltage of 85.8 V, a short-circuit current of 8.7 & mu;A, and atransfer charge of 29 nC were obtained in the TENG with an optimumMWCNT content of x = 0.8 wt % under an external forceof 50 N and a frequency of 2 Hz. The TENG can sensitively perceivehuman activities such as walking. Our results evidence that the xMWCNT/CS-TENG is a flexible, wearable, and eco-friendlyenergy collector, holding great prospects in health care and bodyinformation monitoring.

Automated summary

The composition modulation of the friction layer of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) is of great significance for their output performance. In this study, xMWCNT/CS composite films with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as fillers were prepared, and a TENG based on these films was constructed. The introduction of MWCNT fillers significantly improved the dielectric constant of the films, thereby enhancing the output performance of the TENG.