Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are devices capable of effectively harvesting electrical energy from mechanical motion prevalent around us. With the goal of developing TENGs with a small environmental footprint, herein we present the potential of using rubber and paper as biological materials for constructing triboelectric nanogenerators. We explored the performance of these TENGs with various contact material combinations, electrode sizes, and operational frequencies. The optimally configured TENG achieved a maximum open circuit output voltage of over 30 V, and a short circuit current of around 3
- Award ID(s):
- 2004251
- PAR ID:
- 10227640
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Composites science and technology
- Volume:
- 208
- Issue:
- 26
- ISSN:
- 0266-3538
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 108733
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
more » « less
Abstract µA . Additionally, this optimally configured TENG was capable of charging various capacitors and achieved a maximum power output density of 21mW/m 2 . This work demonstrates that biologically derived materials can be used as effective, sustainable, and low-cost contact materials for the development of triboelectric nanogenerators with minimal environmental footprint. -
more » « less
A triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is one of the most significantly innovative microdevices for built-in energy harvesting with wearable and portable electronics. In this study, the forcespinning technology was used to synthesize a nanofiber (NF) mat-based TENG. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane was used as the negative triboelectric electrode/pole, and chemically designed and functionalized thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) was used as the positive electrode/pole for the TENG. The electronic interference, sensitivity, and gate voltage of the synthesized microdevices were investigated using chemically modified bridging of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) with a TPU polymer repeating unit and bare TPU-based positive electrodes. The chemical functionality of TPU NF was integrated during the NF preparation step. The morphological features and the chemical structure of the nanofibers were characterized using a field emission scanning electron microscope and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The electrical output of the fabricated MWCNT-TPU/PVDF TENG yielded a maximum of 212 V in open circuit and 70 µA in short circuit at 240 beats per minute, which proved to be 79% and 15% higher than the TPU/PDVF triboelectric nanogenerator with an electronic contact area of 3.8 × 3.8 cm2, which indicates that MWCNT enhanced the electron transportation facility, which results in significantly enhanced performance of the TENG. This device was further tested for its charging capacity and sensory performance by taking data from different body parts, e.g., the chest, arms, feet, hands, etc. These results show an impending prospect and versatility of the chemically functionalized materials for next-generation applications in sensing and everyday energy harvesting technology.
-
more » « less
Abstract The air breakdown phenomenon is generally considered as a negative effect in previous research on triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), which is always accompanied by air ionization. Here, by utilizing the air breakdown induced ionized air channel, a direct‐current triboelectric nanogenerator (DC‐TENG) is designed for harvesting contact‐separation mechanical energy. During working process, the charges first transfer from bottom to top electrodes through an external circuit in contact state, then flow back via the ionized air channel created by air breakdown in the separation process. So a unidirectional flow of electrical charges can be observed in the external circuit. With repeating contact‐separation cycles, continuous pulsed DC output through the external circuit can be realized. This working mechanism was verified by real‐time electrode potential monitoring, photocurrent signal detection, and controllable discharging observation. The DC‐TENG can be used for directly and continuously charging an energy storage unit and/or driving electronic devices without using a bridge rectifier. Owing to its simplicity in structure, the mechanism is further applied to fabricate the first flexible DC‐TENG. This research provides a significant fundamental study for DC‐TENG technology and may expand its application in flexible electronics and flexible self‐charging power systems.
-
more » « less
Abstract Utilization of self‐healing chemistry to develop synthetic polymer materials that can heal themselves with restored mechanical performance and functionality is of great interest. Self‐healable polymer elastomers with tunable mechanical properties are especially attractive for a variety of applications. Herein, a series of urea functionalized poly(dimethyl siloxane)‐based elastomers (U‐PDMS‐Es) are reported with extremely high stretchability, self‐healing mechanical properties, and recoverable gas‐separation performance. Tailoring the molecular weights of poly(dimethyl siloxane) or weight ratio of elastic cross‐linker offers tunable mechanical properties of the obtained U‐PDMS‐Es, such as ultimate elongation (from 984% to 5600%), Young's modulus, ultimate tensile strength, toughness, and elastic recovery. The U‐PDMS‐Es can serve as excellent acoustic and vibration damping materials over a broad range of temperature (over 100 °C). The strain‐dependent elastic recovery behavior of U‐PDMS‐Es is also studied. After mechanical damage, the U‐PDMS‐Es can be healed in 120 min at ambient temperature or in 20 min at 40 °C with completely restored mechanical performance. The U‐PDMS‐Es are also demonstrated to exhibit recoverable gas‐separation functionality with retained permeability/selectivity after being damaged.
-
null (Ed.)Cellulose-based materials have gained increasing attention for the development of low cost, eco-friendly technologies, and more recently, as functional materials in triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). However, the low output performance of cellulose-based TENGs severely restricts their versatility and employment in emerging smart building and smart city applications. Here, we report a high output performance of a commercial cellulosic material-based energy harvesting floor (CEHF). Benefiting from the significant difference in the triboelectric properties between weighing and nitrocellulose papers, high surface roughness achieved by a newly developed mechanical exfoliation method, and large overall contact area via a multilayered device structure, the CEHF (25 cm × 15 cm × 1.2 cm) exhibits excellent output performance with a maximum output voltage, current, and power peak values of 360 V, 250 μA, and 5 mW, respectively. It can be directly installed or integrated with regular flooring products to effectively convert human body movements into electricity and shows good durability and stability. Moreover, a wireless transmission sensing system that can produce a 1:1 footstep-to-signal (transmitted and received) ratio is instantaneously powered by a TENG based entirely on cellulosic materials for the first time. This work provides a feasible and effective way to utilize commercial cellulosic materials to construct self-powered wireless transmission systems for real-time sensing applications.more » « less
- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
-
Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2021.108733
