Enhancement of triboelectric nanogenerators output performance by background paper-based hierarchical micro-structures for energy harvesting

Abstract

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) capable of efficiently harvesting various mechanical energies from the environment are an effective way to solve the energy supply problem of wearable electronic devices. A series of flexible and lightweight TENGs with different surface morphologies of “dots”–“lines”–“honeycombs” hierarchical micro-structures are developed using low-cost and easily accessible background paper as a substrate. Polydimethylsiloxane films with dots–lines–honeycombs hierarchical micro-structures are prepared by the spin coating to obtain larger contact areas and, thus, enhance the triboelectric effect. Under the same test conditions, the honeycombs TENG (H-TENG) with complex surface morphology has the largest output performance with an open-circuit voltage of 55 V and a short-circuit current of 2.7 μA, which is 2.1 and 2.5 times that of the flat TENG, respectively. By combining with nylon gloves, the H-TENG can harvest the mechanical energy during hand movement and realize sensing of hand movement patterns through the difference of electrical signals. In addition, this device can power the liquid crystal display screen through a rectifier circuit and capacitor. This simple and efficient TENG device shows great potential in the wearable field.