Abstract
As a novel technology to convert low-frequency energy into electric power, the triboelectric nanogenerator is a hot research topic recently. However, the nature of charge carriers and their transfer mechanisms still remain poorly understood, especially for the cases of liquid–solid triboelectric nanogenerator. In this paper, charges produced by a triboelectric charging process were designed to provide melt-blown nonwoven fabrics with high filtration efficiency by making full use of the electrostatic attraction filtration mechanism. Influences of water conductivity and drying temperature on the filtration efficiency of melt-blown nonwoven fabrics were investigated. And the corresponding properties such as the surface charge potential and charge stability were analyzed by using the electrostatic voltmeter, bio atomic force microscope and thermally stimulated discharge technique. In addition, metal and inorganic elements in the masterbatch and water before and after triboelectric charging were measured in order to uncover the charge transfer mechanism. Melt-blown nonwoven fabrics with filtration efficiency as high as 96.8% was obtained through the triboelectric charging treatment by using water with the conductivity as low as 1.1 μS/cm for the first time. Negative and positive surface charge density appeared randomly on both sides of melt-blown nonwoven fabrics after the triboelectric charging treatment from the bio atomic force microscope measurement while only one kind of surface charge density can be achieved in the research of TENG, that is, negative or positive. It seems there are both electron and ion transfers during the triboelectric charging process and electron transfer seems to have more important contribution for the generation of charges.
Highlights
As a novel technology to convert low-frequency energy into electric power, the triboelectric nanogenerator is a hot research topic recently
It is believed that static charges on fiber surface of meltblown nonwoven fabric (MNF) generated after the triboelectric charging treatment have important contribution to the filtration efficiency of MNF by making use of the electrostatic attraction filtration mechanism, consistent with the findings in the study of solid–liquid triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) which is reported that solutes in the solution, pH value of the solution and the hydrophilicity of the solid affect the ratio of electron transfers to ion t ransfers[21]
A meltblown nonwoven filter with high filtration efficiency was developed by triboelectric charging process and the charge origin mechanism was analyzed for the first time
Summary
As a novel technology to convert low-frequency energy into electric power, the triboelectric nanogenerator is a hot research topic recently. It is believed that static charges on fiber surface of MNF generated after the triboelectric charging treatment have important contribution to the filtration efficiency of MNF by making use of the electrostatic attraction filtration mechanism, consistent with the findings in the study of solid–liquid TENG which is reported that solutes in the solution, pH value of the solution and the hydrophilicity of the solid affect the ratio of electron transfers to ion t ransfers[21].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
