Role of the polarization state on the performance of PVDF-ZnO based triboelectric nanogenerator

We have prepared PVDF-ZnO film and developed a triboelectric nanogenerator using PVDF-ZnO coupled with PTFE film. It is found that the polarization state of the PVDF-ZnO film plays an important role in the performance of the TENG. When the positively poled PVDF-ZnO film is used for the TENG, it gives more output voltage as compared to the unpoled film whereas when the film is negatively poled, it gives the least output voltage. The reason for getting different output voltage when the polarization state of the PVDF-ZnO film has been attributed to the change in the workfunction of PVDF with respect to PTFE. The present work clearly demonstrates the role of the polarization state of the contacting triboelectric material, which will be useful not only for the energy harvesting application but also in the field in which the triboelectric effect is used to control or power semiconducting devices.