Pumping up the charge density of a triboelectric nanogenerator by charge-shuttling
Open Access
- 21 August 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Nature Communications
- Vol. 11 (1), 1-9
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-17891-1
Abstract
As an emerging technology for harvesting mechanical energy, low surface charge density greatly hinders the practical applications of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). Here, a high-performance TENG based on charge shuttling is demonstrated. Unlike conventional TENGs with static charges fully constrained on the dielectric surface, the device works based on the shuttling of charges corralled in conduction domains. Driven by the interaction of two quasi-symmetrical domains, shuttling of two mirror charge carriers can be achieved to double the charge output. Based on the mechanism, an ultrahigh projected charge density of 1.85 mC m−2 is obtained in ambient conditions. An integrated device for water wave energy harvesting is also presented, confirming its feasibility for practical applications. The device provides insights into new modes of TENGs using unfixed charges in domains, shedding a new light on high-performance mechanical energy harvesting technology.Keywords
This publication has 39 references indexed in Scilit:
- An autonomously electrically self-healing liquid metal–elastomer composite for robust soft-matter robotics and electronicsNature Materials, 2018
- Transparent and attachable ionic communicators based on self-cleanable triboelectric nanogeneratorsNature Communications, 2018
- Skin electronics from scalable fabrication of an intrinsically stretchable transistor arrayNature, 2018
- Progress in triboelectric nanogenerators as a new energy technology and self-powered sensorsEnergy & Environmental Science, 2015
- The Internet of Things vision: Key features, applications and open issuesComputer Communications, 2014
- Power from the oceans: Blue energyNature, 2014
- Opportunities and challenges for a sustainable energy futureNature, 2012
- Flexible triboelectric generatorNano Energy, 2012
- Harvesting Ocean Wave EnergyScience, 2009
- Everything, everywhereNature, 2006