Electrification Mechanism and Critical Performance Factors of Animal Fur Fiber‐Based Soft‐Contact Triboelectric Nanogenerators

Abstract

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are emerging as a promising technology for self‐powered sensing and energy supply due to their abundant materials, simple design, and cost‐effectiveness. Surface modification enhances output, but prolonged use can lead to wear, compromising stability and performance, while generating wear particles and microplastics, worsening environmental pollution. This study presents a soft contact fur‐based TENG (F‐B TENG) using natural animal fur as a flexible triboelectric medium, achieving high output with minimal environmental impact. The contact electrification mechanisms between the soft fur friction layer and the solid dielectric are explored, focusing on structure, strength, and scale. A high‐performance compound fur‐based TENG (CF‐B TENG) is developed by combining wool and rabbit fur components, showing significant improvement in triboelectric output compared to F‐B TENG. Under various rotational speeds and directions, CF‐B TENG maintains a stable output of 220.76 V even at −30 °C. After 130 000 cycles, the output decreases by only 10.74%, highlighting the excellent environmental adaptability and mechanical stability of the composite fur friction layer. This work provides a strategy to reduce environmental pollution while maintaining high output, facilitating the selection of materials, and expanding TENG applications.