Current amplification through deformable arch-shaped film based direct-current triboelectric nanogenerator for harvesting wind energy

•Low-friction, high-efficiency contact through deformable arch-shaped film structure.•Current amplification through mechanical design (can produce current output of 1.7 A)•High efficiency direct-current output to charge capacitors without a bridge rectifier. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are one of energy harvesting technologies in spotlight that can produce electrical output from various mechanical movements such as vertical vibration, sliding motion, and rotation through different designs. Despite this potential, frictional damage is inevitable since TENG utilizes contact electrification that require repeated contact and separation on the surfaces of two materials. To decrease the frictional wear, flexible materials of designs with soft contact can be applied, but the efficiency of generating electrical output will be lowered. In this study, the deformable arch-shaped film TENG (DAS-TENG) is developed to decrease an unnecessary friction force by applying moderate normal force and increase the contact area with dielectric materials. By additional metal-to-metal contact between the fixed and moving electrodes, it can generate RMS output power of 633.44 mW and direct-current output by a wind input and charge the 100 µF capacitor to 1.74 V for 200 s even without rectifying circuit. We believe that DAS-TENG can be further developed to be primary power source for existing electronics.