A rotating tower-like triboelectric nanogenerator for ultrahigh charge density breakthrough

In order to extract more electricity from triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), improving charge density are key issues. Herein, a rotating tower-like triboelectric nanogenerator (RT-TENG) with an innovative circuit which combine discharge tube (DT) with voltage boost circuit (D-VBC) is proposed for ultrahigh charge density breakthrough. This work designs a TENG that stacks multiple tower-like units to achieve charge compensation and systematically analysed the electromechanical coupling performance of blades. Moreover, D-VBC is established to highly improve the power and charge density. Combining the injection and storage of charge with the discharge effect, the surface charge density increases from 457 µC m−2 to 22 mC m−2(48-fold), and the average power density improves from 41 mW m−2 Hz−1 to 7300 mW m−2 Hz−1, which rapidly charge a 3.3 mF capacitor to 4.2 V within 50 s under the speed of 200 rpm. Furthermore, the power of RT-TENG with 4 tower-like units remains stable after 4 days continuous operation. Thus, this work provides a paradigm for improving the charge density and power of TENGs. [Display omitted] •A rotating tower-like triboelectric nanogenerator with an innovative circuit which combine discharge tube with voltage boost circuit is proposed.•The electromechanical coupling performance of blades is systematically analysed.•This work designs a TENG that stacks multiple tower-like units to achieve charge compensation.•Combining the injection and storage of charge with the discharge effect, the surface charge density increases from 457 µC m-2 to 22 mC m-2(48-fold).