Since 2012, a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has provided new possibilities to convert tiny and effective mechanical energies into electrical energies by the physical contact of two objects. Over the past few years, with the advancement of materials' synthesis and device technologies, the TENGs generated a high instantaneous output power of several mW/cm2, required to drive various self-powered systems. However, TENGs may suffer from intrinsic and practical limitations such as air breakdown that affect the further increase of the outputs. This article provides a comprehensive review of high-output TENGs from fundamental issues through materials to devices. Finally, we show some strategies for fabricating high-output TENGs.
Keywords: 102 Porous / Nanoporous / Nanostructured materials; 206 Energy conversion / transport / storage / recovery; 307 Kinetics and energy / mass transport; Triboelectric nanogenerator; charged materials; high electric-outputs; self-charging technology; self-powered systems.
© 2019 The Author(s). Published by National Institute for Materials Science in partnership with Taylor & Francis Group.