Polymer Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Cost‐Effective Green Energy Generation and Implementation of Surface‐Charge Engineering

Authors

Diana Lopez
Aminur Rashid Chowdhury, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Abu Masa Abdullah, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Muhtasim Ul Karim Sadaf, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Isaac Martinez, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Brishty Deb Chowdhury, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Serena Danti
Christopher J. Ellison
Karen Lozano, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow
Mohammed Jasim Uddin, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-31-2021

Abstract

Performance of triboelectric nanogenerators for harvesting mechanical energy from the ambient environment has been limited by structural complexity, cost-effectiveness, and mechanical weakness of materials. Herein, a cost-effective vertical contact separation mode triboelectric nanogenerator using polyethylene (PE) and polycarbonate (PC) in a regular digital versatile disc is reported. This cost-effective nanogenerator with simplified structures is able to generate an open-circuit voltage of 215.3 V and short-circuit current of 80 μA. The effects of the distance of impact and the air gap between the triboelectric layers have also been tested from 3 to 9 cm, and 0.25 to 1 cm, respectively. It is determined that 0.5 cm is the optimal air gap. The nanogenerator is also tested in different real-life scenarios including stresses produced by a moving car, walking, and a rolling skateboard over the nanogenerator. The surfaces of the triboelectric layers are further modified by surface-charge engineering which induced a 460% increase in the output power. These tests reveal a significant electrical response and mechanical stability under stress. In summary, this study demonstrates that the relatively inexpensive PE and PC triboelectric pair has the potential to be used for highly efficient, mechanically robust triboelectric nanogenerators.

Comments

Original published version available at https://doi.org/10.1002/ente.202001088

Recommended Citation

Lopez, D., Chowdhury, A.R., Abdullah, A.M., Sadaf, M.U.K., Martinez, I., Choudhury, B.D., Danti, S., Ellison, C.J., Lozano, K. and Uddin, M.J. (2021), Polymer Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Cost-Effective Green Energy Generation and Implementation of Surface-Charge Engineering. Energy Technol., 9: 2001088. https://doi.org/10.1002/ente.202001088

Publication Title

Energy Technology

DOI

10.1002/ente.202001088