INFLUENCE OF SURFACE ROUGHNESS ON THE OUTPUT VOLTAGE OF A TRIBOELECTRIC NANOGENERATOR

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) are becoming increasingly popular due to their wide range of uses, ranging from self-powered sensors to energy harvesters, they are devices that make use of the triboelectric effect in order to convert mechanical energy into electric energy. However, in order for them to be as effective as possible, complicated surface geometries are often used. The present study investigates a cheap method of obtaining desirable surfaces for use in TENG, using commercial emery paper to roughen one of their two surfaces. It was found that increasing the grit and thus decreasing the particle size of the emery paper used in roughening the surface increased the output open circuit voltage of the triboelectric nanogenerator. It is concluded that emery paper works as a cheap method of roughening one of the two surfaces of a TENG, and increasing the number of contacting asperities leading to the increase of electrostatic charge. It was found that as the value of the applied load increases, the output voltage increases, due to the increase of the actual contact area of the TENG.