Maximizing Output Energy via Suppressing Charge Loss and Increasing Load Voltage in Charge Extraction Process

Abstract

Abstract The effective collection of interfacial tribo‐charges and an increase in load voltage are two essential factors that improve the output energy of triboelectric nanogenerators. However, some tribo‐charges are hardly collected through one or multiple integrated side electrodes based on corona discharge, and their load voltages are limited by air breakdown in adjacent electrodes. In this study, a dynamic quasi‐dipole potential distribution model is proposed to systematically reveal the mechanisms of interfacial tribo‐charge loss. Based on this model, an optimization route is designed to reduce the interfacial charge loss stepwise, achieving a 15‐fold improvement in charge collection from the tribo‐interface. A potential difference enhancement strategy is used for the first time to increase the air breakdown threshold between the inner electrodes and increase the output voltage under a large load. By effective increase in charge collection efficiency and load voltage, a historical record output energy density of 5.03 J m −2 is obtained. This study refined and optimized the interfacial charge loss mechanisms and provided advanced guidance for efficiently extracting energy during the triboelectrification process.