Contact-sliding-separation mode triboelectric nanogenerator†

Abstract

Durability is a critical concern for triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) since it significantly impacts their output performance and stability. To address this issue, TENGs designed with rolling rods/balls have been developed to reduce surface wear. However, their line/point contact severely reduces the charge generation capability of triboelectric surfaces. Therefore, developing TENGs with both high output performance and low interface wear remains a significant challenge. Here, we propose a contact-sliding-separation motion strategy to realize a TENG with high output performance and remarkable durability. Compared to the contact-separation mode TENG, the contact-sliding-separation mode TENG (CSS-TENG) exhibits a 1000% increase in charge generation and a 35.6 times increase in output power. The CSS-TENG retains 99.8% of its output after 200 000 cycles, with an average triboelectric layer mass loss of 0.2 mg per 10 000 cycles with a diameter of 50 mm (<4% of the free-standing mode TENG). Furthermore, an integrated device is also designed, achieving a peak power density of 18.0 W m⁻³. Finally, after power management, the CSS-TENG generates a direct current of 3.7 mA, lighting ten 30 W lamps. This study addresses the limitations of the existing TENGs and offers a promising solution for developing high-performance TENGs.