A robust rolling-mode direct-current triboelectric nanogenerator arising from electrostatic breakdown effect

With merits of light weight, low cost, and high efficiency even at low frequency, triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has been considered as a potential solution for distributed energy for the new era of internet of things (IoTs). However, the conventional TENG always has intrinsic property of high current crest factor, which is unable to drive electronics directly, and its output performance is usually limited by air breakdown and material wear. Here, we designed a rolling-mode direct-current TENG (R-DC-TENG) by coupling triboelectrification effect and electrostatic breakdown for realizing a constant current (crest factor ~1) output in rolling mode TENG for the first time. The R-DC-TENG shows the output characteristics of a quasi-constant current source, with a stable constant current output at load from 1 kΩ to 100 MΩ. More importantly, it exhibits an excellent robustness compared with the reported sliding-mode DC-TENG (S-DC-TENG). A rolling-mode direct-current TENG (R-DC-TENG) was designed by coupling triboelectrification effect and electrostatic breakdown for realizing a constant current output in rolling mode TENG for the first time. The R-DC-TENG shows the output characteristics of an approximate constant current source within 100 MΩ. More importantly, it exhibits an excellent robustness compared with the reported sliding-mode DC-TENG. [Display omitted] •Constant current output is realized in rolling mode TENG for the first time•The service life of DC-TENG is improved by replacement of sliding movement by the rotary motion•The output of R-DC-TENG is enhanced by optimizing the ratio of charge collect electrode and rolling friction electrode.•The R-DC-TENG shows the output characteristics of an approximate constant current source within 100 MΩ.