Tribo-material based on a magnetic polymeric composite for enhancing the performance of triboelectric nanogenerator

Magnetic polymeric composite has variable capacitance based on the adjustable arrangement of magnetic particles controlled by magnetic field. Considering the capacitive effect on the surface charge density of tribo-materials has important influence on the output performance of TENG, it is of great significance to study the magnetic polymeric composite as the tribo-material of TENG from a microscopic perspective. Here, an approach of using a magnetic polymeric composite film as the tribo-material is proposed to effectively enhance the output performance of TENG (M-TENG). After studying the influence of the cured magnetic flux density, filling particle concentration and particle size, a sustainable and enhanced output of 32.6 μA (short-circuit current) and 233.4 V (open-circuit voltage) were obtained, and a peak output power of 2.5 mW was gained from the M-TENG under a loading resistance of 3 MΩ, giving over 4.7-fold enhancement than the TENG which was based on the pure silicone rubber mixture film (0.53 mW). Finally, a real-time automatic target-scoring system was constructed to illustrate the practical value of M-TENG as a self-powered sensor. Magnetic polymeric composite has variable capacitance based on the adjustable arrangement of magnetic particles controlled by magnetic field. Considering the capacitive effect on the surface charge density of tribo-materials has important influence on the output performance of TENG, an approach of using a magnetic polymeric composite film as the tribo-material is proposed to effectively enhance the output performance of TENG. And a real-time automatic target-scoring system is constructed to illustrate the practical value of M-TENG as a self-powered sensor. [Display omitted] •The output of M-TENG enhanced by using a magnetic polymeric composite film as the tribo-material.•The capacitance mechanism of the M-TENG was revealed clearly at the particle level.•The effects of magnetic flux density, particle concentration and particle size were investigated.•A real-time automatic target-scoring system with M-TENG as the self-powered sensor was developed.