Coupling electrostatic induction and global electron circulation for constant-current triboelectric nanogenerators. (July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Kun; Weng, Yalian; Chen, Guixiong; Wu, Chaoxing; Park, Jae Hyeon; Qiu, Zhirong; Wang, Jiaxin; Liu, Ye; Zhang, Yongai; Zhou, Xiongtu; Guo, Tailiang; Kim, Tae Whan
• Is Part Of: Nano energy. Volume 85(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-07
• Subjects: Constant current -- Electron circulation -- Electron-flow guidance -- Electron pump -- Triboelectric nanogenerator; Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanostructured materials -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Nanoscience; Nanostructured materials; Nanotechnology; Power resources -- Technological innovations; Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2021.105929
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2211-2855

Abstract

Abstract: Obtaining direct-current (DC) output is important to triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) technology. The working mechanism of a TENG is a fixed number of electrons periodically oscillating between electrodes through a load circuit. For most DC-TENGs, unipolar output is realized by using local-rectification, which is introducing rectifying devices to the load circuit, and the essence of periodical electron oscillation between electrodes is not changed. In this work, a constant-current TENG with global electron-circulation is demonstrated. The basic unit of our TENG only consists of a metal induction layer (MIL) connected with an electronic load through two rectified PN-junctions. The MIL-load loop is in an electric neutrality state. The force driving the global electron-circulation in the MIL-load loop is the electrostatic force introduced from an external position-variable charged layer. The periodic motion of the charged layer leads to a unidirectional electron-circulation in the MIL-load loop. A stable constant current can be obtained by increasing the number of parallel MIL units. This constant-current TENG can be used to directly drive LEDs without flicker and to directly drive electronic devices. Because no contact is made between the charged layer and the MIL units, the operational life of the TENG is effectively extended. Graphical Abstract: ga1 Highlights: A constant-current TENG with global electron-circulation is demonstrated. Working mechanisms of the constant-current TENG are studied. A stable constant current (CF = 1.02) is obtained by optimizing TENG structure. This TENG can directly drive LEDs without flicker and directly drive electronic devices. The operation life of the TENG is effectively extended.