Trap Distribution and Conductivity Synergic Optimization of High-Performance Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Self-Powered Devices

Exploring effective methods of increasing the triboelectric charge density of tribo-materials to boost the output performance of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) is crucial for expanding their practical applicability in modern smart devices. This study discusses the incorporation of various polymeric dielectric layers between the tribo-material and electrode components of TENGs, which improved their electrical output performance to varying degrees. The TENG demonstrating the largest improvement (1200 V) was obtained after adding a polyimide layer. The analysis presented herein suggests that incorporating a dielectric layer with high trap energy means that more charges are held in deep traps; thus, such TENGs demonstrate the best electrical performance. Additionally, when a dielectric layer is added to the triboelectric material, the enhanced TENG output is related to the volume conductivity of the triboelectric material, but not to its electronegativity or surface structure. Finally, the optimized TENG developed in this work demonstrates energy harvesting capabilities and can function as a self-powered sensor applied in an intelligent housing system and as an emergency fall detection/alert system for the elderly and the sick.