Enhancing performance of triboelectric nanogenerator by accelerating the charge transfer strategy

Developing high-performance triboelectric nanogenerators (HP-TENGs) is paramount for expanding their commercial utility. Presently, HP-TENGs predominantly concentrate on augmenting surface charge density. Here, we introduce an innovative strategy, denoted ACT-TENG (Accelerated Charge Transfer TENG), which markedly enhances TENG's performance by effectively accelerating charge transfer between materials, all while preserving the original charge density. We substantiate the feasibility of this approach through systematic investigations, employing magnetic field modulation and bidirectional rotation mode to verify the gain effect of ACT-TENG. Notably, compared to conventional free-standing TENG (FS-TENG), ACT-TENG achieves a 4-fold increase in charge transfer rate and a remarkable 14.6-fold enhancement in output power. This leads to an impressive average power density of 499.05 mW m-² Hz-¹ , showcasing superior performance compared to previously reported FS-TENG designs. Furthermore, ACT-TENG exhibits exceptional characteristics when deployed in a water flow environment, generating the power of 10.76 mW at a flow rate of 180 L min−1. Finally, we utilize ACT-TENG to harvest energy from water flow, constructing a self-powered Internet of Things (IoT) system within the underground pipeline gallery. This study addresses existing limitations in TENG technology and offers valuable insights into further advancements in enhancing TENG's performance. [Display omitted] •A generalized strategy (ACT-TENG) is proposed to improve the performance of TENG by accelerating the charge transfer.•The power of ACT-TENG is 14.6 times higher than free-standing TENG, and an excellent average power density is achieved.•An IoT self-powered system for the underground smart pipeline gallery is developed by harvesting water flow energy.