An Investigation Into The Influence Of Tribological Parameters On The Operation Of Sliding Triboelectric Nanogenerators

The triboelectric effect also known as contact electrification has long been described as the phenomenon of electronic charge transfer between material surfaces arising purely as a result of mechanical contact. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are a series of devices that couple contact electrification and electrostatic induction for applications in various power solutions. The tribological properties of these devices have often been overlooked. Through the development of a novel test apparatus, a clear difference can be distinguished in output current and contact charge accumulation as different insulating and conductive materials are used. A relationship between the rms slope (Rdq) of contacting surfaces and their respective charging rates via triboelectrification is also demonstrated.