Maximizing Output Energy via Suppressing Charge Loss and Increasing Load Voltage in Charge Extraction Process.

Abstract

The effective collection of interfacial tribo-charges and an increase in load voltage are two essential factors that improve the output energy of triboelectric nanogenerators. However, some tribo-charges are hardly collected through one or multiple integrated side electrodes based on corona discharge, and their load voltages are limited by air breakdown in adjacent electrodes. In this study, a dynamic quasi-dipole potential distribution model is proposed to systematically reveal the mechanisms of interfacial tribo-charge loss. Based on this model, an optimization route is designed to reduce the interfacial charge loss stepwise, achieving a 15-fold improvement in charge collection from the tribo-interface. A potential difference enhancement strategy is used for the first time to increase the air breakdown threshold between the inner electrodes and increase the output voltage under a large load. By effective increase in charge collection efficiency and load voltage, a historical record output energy density of 5.03 J m^-2 is obtained. This study refined and optimized the interfacial charge loss mechanisms and provided advanced guidance for efficiently extracting energy during the triboelectrification process.