Triboelectric\nNanogenerators: Enhancing Performance\nby Increasing the Charge-Generating Layer Compressibility

Abstract

Triboelectric\nnanogenerators (TENGs) have received significant\nattention for next-generation wearable electronics due to their simple\ndevice structure and low cost. Although the performance of TENGs is\nintimately tied to compressibility effects in the charge-generating\nlayer, achieving high compressibility with conventional elastomers\nis challenging because molecular entanglements place a lower bound\non the softness of cross-linked networks. Here, we demonstrate that\nbottlebrush elastomers are efficient charge-generating layers that\nimprove the output performance of TENGs, including voltage, current,\nand surface potential, by minimizing entanglements and decreasing\nthe compressive modulus (<i>E</i>). For example, a cross-linked\nbottlebrush with poly­(dimethylsiloxane) side chains yielded TENGs\nwith an output voltage (120 V) more than two times larger than a linear\nPDMS network (55 V). In conclusion, this study highlights the advantage\nof designing new charge-generating layers with improved compressibility\nto enhance TENG performance.