Achieving ultrahigh triboelectric charge density for efficient energy harvesting

Abstract With its light weight, low cost and high efficiency even at low operation frequency, the triboelectric nanogenerator is considered a potential solution for self-powered sensor networks and large-scale renewable blue energy. As an energy harvester, its output power density and efficiency are dictated by the triboelectric charge density. Here we report a method for increasing the triboelectric charge density by coupling surface polarization from triboelectrification and hysteretic dielectric polarization from ferroelectric material in vacuum ( P ~ 10 −6 torr). Without the constraint of air breakdown, a triboelectric charge density of 1003 µC m −2 , which is close to the limit of dielectric breakdown, is…