The continuous fabrication of a high-performance triboelectric nanogenerator by a roll-to-roll process. Issue 31 (2nd August 2022) - Liu, Yuebo
Abstract : It illustrates the process of the continuous fabrication of a high-performance TENG by a UV-induced polymerization strategy. Abstract : As promising energy harvesters, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) can be widely used in the efficient harvesting of ubiquitous mechanical energy into electric power. However, the continuous fabrication of high-performance triboelectric nanogenerators is still a challenge. Here, with the roll-to-roll process, we report the continuous fabrication of a high-performance triboelectric nanogenerator by ultrafast UV-induced linking of the triboelectric layer to the conductive substrate. Benefiting from the grafting of the methacrylate functional group onto polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), methacrylate-functionalized PDMS (MAPDMS) can be polymerized under UV light. By introducing fluorine-containing silane to enhance electronegativity, fluorine MAPDMS (MAPDMS-F) can achieve a high surface charge density of 249 μC m −2, which is nearly double that of MAPDMS. Moreover, MAPDMS-F can also be used as a water resistance layer and combined with an interdigital electrode to harvest raindrop energy. This work not only provides an easy way to overcome a major bottleneck in the production of high-performance TENGs but also provides significant guidance on the design of the triboelectric layer.