Field emission effect in triboelectric nanogenerators
Abstract Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have garnered increasing attention due to their exceptional ability to convert mechanical energy into electricity. Previous understanding is that the electric performance of TENGs is primarily restricted by contact electrification, air breakdown, and die...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59927-4 |
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| author | Di Liu Yikui Gao Wenyan Qiao Linglin Zhou Lixia He Cuiying Ye Bingzhe Jin Baofeng Zhang Zhong Lin Wang Jie Wang |
| author_facet | Di Liu Yikui Gao Wenyan Qiao Linglin Zhou Lixia He Cuiying Ye Bingzhe Jin Baofeng Zhang Zhong Lin Wang Jie Wang |
| author_sort | Di Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have garnered increasing attention due to their exceptional ability to convert mechanical energy into electricity. Previous understanding is that the electric performance of TENGs is primarily restricted by contact electrification, air breakdown, and dielectric breakdown effects. Here, we have discovered the occurrence of field emission arising from contact electrification and identified its limitation on surface charge density, subsequently impacting the output performance of TENGs. More importantly, we reveal that field emission occurs prior to dielectric breakdown, introducing a new limitation for TENGs performance. By suppressing the field emission effect, an ultrahigh charge density in contact electrification, reaching up to 2.816 mC m−2, is achieved, significantly exceeding previous reports. Additionally, we show that by regulating the field emission effect, TENGs could produce an energy density over 10 J m−2. These findings are crucial for improving TENG’s performance and enhancing the understanding of contact electrification. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5febaf351f4644d68a8c3fcd75bfcdec |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-5febaf351f4644d68a8c3fcd75bfcdec2025-08-20T03:48:18ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-05-0116111110.1038/s41467-025-59927-4Field emission effect in triboelectric nanogeneratorsDi Liu0Yikui Gao1Wenyan Qiao2Linglin Zhou3Lixia He4Cuiying Ye5Bingzhe Jin6Baofeng Zhang7Zhong Lin Wang8Jie Wang9Beijing Key Laboratory of Micro-Nano Energy and Sensor, Center for High-Entropy Energy and Systems, Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing Key Laboratory of Micro-Nano Energy and Sensor, Center for High-Entropy Energy and Systems, Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing Key Laboratory of Micro-Nano Energy and Sensor, Center for High-Entropy Energy and Systems, Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing Key Laboratory of Micro-Nano Energy and Sensor, Center for High-Entropy Energy and Systems, Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing Key Laboratory of Micro-Nano Energy and Sensor, Center for High-Entropy Energy and Systems, Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing Key Laboratory of Micro-Nano Energy and Sensor, Center for High-Entropy Energy and Systems, Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing Key Laboratory of Micro-Nano Energy and Sensor, Center for High-Entropy Energy and Systems, Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of SciencesHubei Key Laboratory of Automotive Power Train and Electronic Control, School of Automotive Engineering, Hubei University of Automotive TechnologyBeijing Key Laboratory of Micro-Nano Energy and Sensor, Center for High-Entropy Energy and Systems, Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing Key Laboratory of Micro-Nano Energy and Sensor, Center for High-Entropy Energy and Systems, Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of SciencesAbstract Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have garnered increasing attention due to their exceptional ability to convert mechanical energy into electricity. Previous understanding is that the electric performance of TENGs is primarily restricted by contact electrification, air breakdown, and dielectric breakdown effects. Here, we have discovered the occurrence of field emission arising from contact electrification and identified its limitation on surface charge density, subsequently impacting the output performance of TENGs. More importantly, we reveal that field emission occurs prior to dielectric breakdown, introducing a new limitation for TENGs performance. By suppressing the field emission effect, an ultrahigh charge density in contact electrification, reaching up to 2.816 mC m−2, is achieved, significantly exceeding previous reports. Additionally, we show that by regulating the field emission effect, TENGs could produce an energy density over 10 J m−2. These findings are crucial for improving TENG’s performance and enhancing the understanding of contact electrification.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59927-4 |
| spellingShingle | Di Liu Yikui Gao Wenyan Qiao Linglin Zhou Lixia He Cuiying Ye Bingzhe Jin Baofeng Zhang Zhong Lin Wang Jie Wang Field emission effect in triboelectric nanogenerators Nature Communications |
| title | Field emission effect in triboelectric nanogenerators |
| title_full | Field emission effect in triboelectric nanogenerators |
| title_fullStr | Field emission effect in triboelectric nanogenerators |
| title_full_unstemmed | Field emission effect in triboelectric nanogenerators |
| title_short | Field emission effect in triboelectric nanogenerators |
| title_sort | field emission effect in triboelectric nanogenerators |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59927-4 |
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