Development of Nylon/Fe3O4 Nanocomposite Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Self-Powered Transmission Line Monitoring Applications

Abstract

This study explores how the performance of triboelectric nanogenerators can be enhanced by incorporating Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles into nylon films using a spray coating technique. Five triboelectric nanogenerator prototypes were created: one with regular nylon and four with nylon/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposites featuring varying nanoparticle densities. The electrical output, measured by open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current, showed significant improvements in the nanocomposite-based triboelectric nanogenerators compared to the nylon-only triboelectric nanogenerator. When a weak magnetic field was applied during nanocomposite preparation, the maximum voltage and current reached 56.3 V and 4.62 μA, respectively. Further analysis revealed that the magnetic field during the drying process aligned the magnetic domains, boosting output efficiency. These findings demonstrate the potential of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles to enhance electrostatic and magnetic interactions in triboelectric nanogenerators, leading to improved energy-harvesting performance. This approach presents a promising strategy for developing high-performance triboelectric nanogenerators for sustainable energy and sensor applications.