Enhanced\nEnergy Harvesting\nPerformance of Triboelectric\nNanogenerators via Dielectric Property Regulation

Abstract

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs)\nhold great application\nprospects\nand research values in the field of energy harvest. The friction layer\nof TENGs plays an important impact role in their output performance.\nTherefore, composition modulation of the friction layer is of great\nsignificance. In this paper, the <i>x</i>MWCNT/CS composite\nfilms with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as a filler and chitosan\n(CS) as a matrix were prepared and a TENG based on the <i>x</i>MWCNT/CS composite films (<i>x</i>MWCNT/CS-TENG) was constructed.\nThe introduction of the conductive filler MWCNT significantly improves\nthe dielectric constant of the films due to the Maxwell–Wagner\nrelaxation. As a result, the output performance of the <i>x</i>MWCNT/CS-TENG is greatly enhanced. The best values of an open-circuit\nvoltage of 85.8 V, a short-circuit current of 8.7 μA, and a\ntransfer charge of 29 nC were obtained in the TENG with an optimum\nMWCNT content of <i>x</i> = 0.8 wt % under an external force\nof 50 N and a frequency of 2 Hz. The TENG can sensitively perceive\nhuman activities such as walking. Our results evidence that the <i>x</i>MWCNT/CS-TENG is a flexible, wearable, and eco-friendly\nenergy collector, holding great prospects in health care and body\ninformation monitoring.