High-performance triboelectric nanogenerator with optimized Al or Ti-embedded silicone tribomaterial

Abstract

In this study, we have enhanced the electricity generation capacity of a silicone and glass fiber-based vertical contact separation mode triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) by optimizing the thickness of the silicone material and by tuning the triboelectrification characteristics embedding Al or Ti conductive materials. Considering electrical outputs, the optimum thickness of the silicone triboelectric material layer decorated with 2.5 wt% Al or 2.5 wt% Ti is found to be 0.85 mm. The silicone and glass fiber-based TENG delivers the highest performance with 2.5 wt% Al or 5 wt% Ti embedding. The peak power density of 2.5 wt% Al or 5 wt% Ti-embedded silicone glass fiber TENGs are 22.6 W/m2 and 21.3 W/m2, respectively. Embedding 2.5 wt% Al or 5 wt% Ti enhances output power density by 2.19 folds and 2.06 folds, respectively compared to the pure silicone tribonegative layer. We have demonstrated that using conductive fillers significantly increases the TENGs' powers and charging capacities.