Enhancing the Output Performance of Triboelectric Nanogenerator via Grating-Electrode-Enabled Surface Plasmon Excitation

The surface charge density and the output impedance of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are two critical factors for TENGs to speed up their commercialization, so it is important to explore unique methods to reduce the output impedance and increase the surface charge density. Here, an approach is demonstrated to effectively boost the output performance of TENG while reducing the output impedance of TENGs by utilizing grating-electrode-enabled surface plasmon excitation. A sustainable and enhanced output performance of about 40 mu A (short-circuit current) and 350 V (peak-to-peak voltage at a resistance of 10 M omega) is produced via grating-coupled surface plasmon resonance on the TENG with the aluminum grating electrode in the line density of 600 lines mm(-1), and it delivers a peak output power of 3.6 mW under a loading resistance of 1 M omega, giving over 4.5-fold enhancement in output power and a 75% reduction in the output impedance. Finally a self-powered ultrasonic ranging system is utilized to verify the capability of the TENG in powering portable electrics.