Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology Scientists Improve the Power Output of Triboelectric Nanogenerators with Carbon Particles
GWANGJU, South Korea, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Most of us have felt the shock from static electricity by touching a metallic object after putting on a sweater or walking across a carpet. This occurs as a result of charge build-up whenever two dissimilar materials (such as our body and the fabric) come in contact with each other.
- In 2012, scientists from the USA and China used this phenomenon, known as "triboelectric effect," to build a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) that converts unused mechanical energy into useful electrical energy.
- Viewed as potential sustainable energy harvesters, efforts have been made to enhance the power output of TENGs by injecting charges to the surface of triboelectric films.
- However, charge recombination in the electrode and charge repulsion on the surface of the material prevents them from achieving high surface charge densities.
- To make the layers, the researchers used electrospun mesoporous carbon spheres together with layers of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and nylon.