Elevating triboelectric polymer charge-carrying capacity via cascaded charge confinement and planting for remarkable performance amplification

Abstract

The attainment of outrageous electrode charge density in triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) hinges on substantially strengthening the charge-carrying capacity of triboelectric materials. Here, a universal cistern model is first proposed to derive essential prerequisites for reaching this destination. According to the deduction, surface functionalized BaTiO₃ (BTO) nanoparticles and poly(ether-ether-ketone) (PEEK) are exploited to construct interfaces from nanoscale to macroscopic scale in poly (vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (P(VDF-HFP)) to immensely bolster its 3D charge confinement capability. Subsequently, through the collaboration of a charge planting module (CPM), the charge hindrance effect is efficaciously attenuated, enabling the modified P(VDF-HFP) to confine more charges. As a consequence, the transferred charge density (TCD) of the TENG utilizing the modified P(VDF-HFP) reaches 600 μC/m², a 20-fold increment over the TCD of the unmodified P(VDF-HFP). Meanwhile, the charge de-trapping of the modified P(VDF-HFP) also reveals that the CPM not only elevates the surface charge of the dielectric but also raises the space charge of the dielectric, indicative of a synergistic effect between the various tactics. Furthermore, the model and methodology we have crafted can be broadly applied to refine a broad spectrum of triboelectric materials, potentially propelling forward the advancement of highly charged triboelectric dielectrics.