MODES OF OPERATION IN A TRIBOELECTRIC

NANOGENERATOR

JOYITA CHATTERJEE
SCHOLAR NO: 212105102
SUBJECT CODE : NT 526
 FUNDAMENTAL WORKING MODE
TENGs are derived from the coupling effect of contact electrification and
electrostatic induction (also known as contact induced electrification).
Contact electrification, known as static electricity and contact charging, is a
common phenomenon in which the dissimilar material/surface becomes charged
(due to charge separation) after contacting with each other(due to friction). This is
also known as triboelectric effect.
Electrostatic induction is a redistribution of electric charge in an object, caused by
the influence of nearby charges. Due to induction, the electrostatic potential is
constant at any point throughout a conductor.
 SETUP USED

Schematic of TENG
(a) Nanostructured Al mold having nano cavities on its surface
(b) Formation of PDMS nanodomes from Al mold with spacer
(c) Deposition of Au thin layer on back side of nanostructured PDMS
(d) Al sheet as bottom electrode of TENG
(e) Cross-section view of TENG
 SETUP USED
• The nanostructured Al disc was used as mold for fabrication of PDMS. The nano
domes of PDMS were achieved from Al replica.
• First, the liquid PDMS was prepared by mixing silicon elastomer and cross linker in
10:1 wt ratios respectively. The PDMS were deposited onto the surface of Al having
nano cavities.
• The air bubbles from PDMS were removed in vacuum chamber at 0.2 Torr. The
sample was cured at 80 degree centigrade for 1 hr and then the Al disc was
removed mechanically to make nano domes and spacer structure.
• For top electrode, a thin layer of Au was sputtered on back side of nanostructured
PDMS by magnetron plasma sputtering.
• For bottom electrode, an Al sheet was used.
PREPARATION OF POLYDIMETHYLSILOXANE
We are thus trying to implement the concept of static electricity in context to a device to derive some sort of
power output for running small scale applications.

According to the different structure designs of electrodes or the moving manners of the triboelectric layer in
TENGs, four different modes of TENGs have been elaborated as follows :-
 VERTICAL CONTACT SEPARATION MODE
• At initial position the PDMS-NDs and Al are at certain distance without any charge on their surfaces.

• When these two surfaces are brought in physical contact, then according to triboelectric series ,electrons are
injected from Al to PDMS due to triboelectric effect .
• The transferring of electrons are continued until an equilibrium state is achieved where the PDMS surface
gains net negative charges and Al surface acquire the corresponding net positive charges.
• In next step as two surfaces starts to release, the electric potential is induced between the top and
bottom electrode of TENG due to electrostatic induction.
• The induced potential difference drives the electron from top to bottom electrode through load
resistance and the conventional current flows from bottom to top.

• At fully released point the current reach to zero due to neutralization of Al surface. It is worth
mentioning that the PDMS retain the triboelectric charges for long time .
• Now if the top electrode is pressed immediately, the process will take place in opposite direction such that
the charges start to move from bottom to top electrode and current flows from top to bottom electrode.

• By continuously pressing and releasing the TENG, an alternating signal is obtained across the load.

Thus, driven by external mechanical motion, the materials will be separated resulting in potential difference
between the two electrodes on the back side of the materials. To maintain the electrostatic equilibrium, the
free electrons in the electrodes will be driven to flow in external circuit to balance the induced potential
difference, thus converting mechanical energy into electrical energy.
LINEAR SLIDING MODE
height
 APPLICATIONS
Harvesting environmental energy
Triboelectric nanogenerator is an ideal energy harvester which can collect diverse mechanical energies from the
environment, especially low frequency mechanical energies, like wind and water waves.
Harvesting energy from human body motion
Since there is abundant mechanical energy generated on human bodies in people's everyday life, we can make use of the
triboelectric nanogenerator to convert this amount of mechanical energy into electricity, for charging portable electronics
and biomedical applications
Harvesting vibration energy
Vibrations are a result of walking, voices, engine vibration, automobile, train, aircraft, wind and many more. It exists almost
everywhere and at all the time. Harvesting vibration energy is of great value especially for powering mobile electronics.
Self-powered motion sensors
The self-powered triboelectric encoder, integrated in smart belt-pulley system, converts friction into useful electrical energy
by storing the harvested energy in a capacitor and fully powering the circuit, including a microcontroller and an LCD.
Self-powered active chemical sensors
As for triboelectric nanogenerators, maximizing the charge generation on opposite sides can be achieved by
selecting the materials with the largest difference in the ability to attract electrons and changing the surface
morphology.
 REFERENCES
• Green Energy and Technology-Triboelectric Nanogenerators BY Zhong Lin Wang, Long Lin, Jun Chen, Simiao
Niu, Yunlong Zi
• https://youtu.be/cS6g4cEHKTg
(NPTEL)
• https://youtu.be/LwzAknB8Msg
( IISER PUNE)

• D.A. Barkas , C.S. Psomopoulos , P. Papageorgas , K. Kalkanis , D. Piromalis , A. Mouratidis : Sustainable

energy harvesting through Triboelectric Nanogenerators: A review of current status and applications.

• Amin Ullah, Ajab Khan Kasi, Jafar Khan Kasi, Moiz Uddin, Muzamil Bokhari : Triboelectric nanogenerator
as self-powered impact force sensor for falling object.
THANK YOU !