Hearing triboelectricity: home experiments

This study explores the demonstration of triboelectricity using everyday materials in a home experiment setting. By rubbing Teflon against metallic electrodes (aluminum and copper), we generated significant voltage due to Teflon’s strong electron acceptor properties. Aluminum exhibited higher voltage generation than copper, attributed to a greater electron affinity difference. To showcase practical applications, we successfully illuminated LEDs and powered a Bluetooth speaker, using the voltage generated from Teflon-metal interactions. This simple yet effective setup highlights the potential of triboelectric materials for sustainable energy harvesting and underscores the accessibility of home-based experiments in advancing scientific understanding.