Chapter 7 - Polymer-based composite materials for triboelectric energy harvesting

Abstract

One of the main assets that direct our lifestyle is energy. With the growing energy demand around the world, discovering new methods for energy-harvesting is the way to meet human necessities for the advancement of the current culture. As an growing part of energy transformation technologies, the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) pioneers a way to successfully convert different mechanical energies into electrical energy utilizing the triboelectric effect. TENG is one of the growing revolutionary research fields where various aspects are considered ranging from material selection and synthesis, its modification, structural design, power storage, and various applications in this field. Material plays a greater role in creating the triboelectrification. TENG is an extraordinary method that opens the utilization of polymer materials (PMs) for harvesting mechanical energy. In recent years, there has been remarkable development of numerous new classes of polymeric materials and composite polymeric materials for TENGs. The composite polymeric materials yield better output performance compared with polymeric materials in most cases. This book chapter concentrates on the existing energy-harvesting methods and TENG modes. Prime importance is given to the selection of materials for better performance. In addition to the application of composite polymeric materials-based TENG in various fields, a literature survey on polymeric and composite polymeric materials is also done.