Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Theoretical foundations of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs)

  • Review
  • Published:
Science China Technological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is an emerging powerful technology for converting ambient mechanical energy into electrical energy through the effect of triboelectricity. Starting from the expanded Maxwell’s equations, the theoretical framework of TENGs has been gradually established. Here, a review is given about its recent progress in constructing of this general theory. The fundamental mechanism of TENGs is constructed by the driving force—Maxwell’s displacement current, which is essentially different from that of electromagnetic generators. Theoretical calculations of the displacement current from a three-dimensional mathematical model are presented, as well as the theoretical studies on the TENGs according to the capacitor models. Furthermore, the figure-of-merits and standards for quantifying the TENG’s output characteristics are discussed, which will provide important guidelines for optimizing the structure and performance of TENGs toward practical applications. Finally, perspectives and challenges are proposed about the basic theory of TENGs and its future technology development.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Painuly J P. Painuly J P. Barriers to renewable energy penetration; a framework for analysis. Renew Energy, 2001, 24: 73–89

    Google Scholar 

  2. Khaligh A, Onar O C. Energy Harvesting: Solar, Wind, and Ocean Energy Conversion Systems. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2009

    Google Scholar 

  3. Wang Z L, Song J. Piezoelectric nanogenerators based on zinc oxide nanowire arrays. Science, 2006, 312: 242–246

    Google Scholar 

  4. Wang Z L. Nanogenerators, self-powered systems, blue energy, piezotronics and piezo-phototronics — A recall on the original thoughts for coining these fields. Nano Energy, 2018, 54: 477–483

    Google Scholar 

  5. Fan F R, Tian Z Q, Lin Wang Z. Flexible triboelectric generator. Nano Energy, 2012, 1: 328–334

    Google Scholar 

  6. Tang W, Jiang T, Fan F R, et al. Liquid-metal electrode for highperformance triboelectric nanogenerator at an instantaneous energy conversion efficiency of 70.6%. Adv Funct Mater, 2015, 25: 3718–3725

    Google Scholar 

  7. Zhu G, Zhou Y S, Bai P, et al. A shape-adaptive thin-film-based approach for 50% high-efficiency energy generation through micrograting sliding electrification. Adv Mater, 2014, 26: 3788–3796

    Google Scholar 

  8. Xie Y, Wang S, Niu S, et al. Grating-structured freestanding triboelectric-layer nanogenerator for harvesting mechanical energy at 85% total conversion efficiency. Adv Mater, 2014, 26: 6599–6607

    Google Scholar 

  9. Lin L, Xie Y, Niu S, et al. Robust triboelectric nanogenerator based on rolling electrification and electrostatic induction at an instantaneous energy conversion efficiency of ∼55%. ACS Nano, 2015, 9: 922–930

    Google Scholar 

  10. Zi Y, Guo H, Wen Z, et al. Harvesting low-frequency (<5 Hz) irregular mechanical energy: a possible killer application of triboelectric nanogenerator. ACS Nano, 2016, 10: 4797–4805

    Google Scholar 

  11. Wang S, Xie Y, Niu S, et al. Freestanding triboelectric-layer-based nanogenerators for harvesting energy from a moving object or human motion in contact and non-contact modes. Adv Mater, 2014, 26: 2818–2824

    Google Scholar 

  12. Wang S, Niu S, Yang J, et al. Quantitative measurements of vibration amplitude using a contact-mode freestanding triboelectric nanogenerator. ACS Nano, 2014, 8: 12004–12013

    Google Scholar 

  13. Bae J, Lee J, Kim S M, et al. Flutter-driven triboelectrification for harvesting wind energy. Nat Commun, 2014, 5: 4929

    Google Scholar 

  14. Quan Z, Han C B, Jiang T, et al. Robust thin films-based triboelectric nanogenerator arrays for harvesting bidirectional wind energy. Adv Energy Mater, 2016, 6: 1501799

    Google Scholar 

  15. Wang Z L. Catch wave power in floating nets. Nature, 2017, 542: 159–160

    Google Scholar 

  16. Wang Z L. Triboelectric nanogenerators as new energy technology and self-powered sensors — Principles, problems and perspectives. Faraday Discuss, 2014, 176: 447–458

    Google Scholar 

  17. Chen J, Yang J, Li Z, et al. Networks of triboelectric nanogenerators for harvesting water wave energy: A potential approach toward blue energy. ACS Nano, 2015, 9: 3324–3331

    Google Scholar 

  18. Jiang T, Zhang L M, Chen X, et al. Structural optimization of triboelectric nanogenerator for harvesting water wave energy. ACS Nano, 2015, 9: 12562–12572

    Google Scholar 

  19. Liang X, Jiang T, Liu G, et al. Spherical triboelectric nanogenerator integrated with power management module for harvesting multidirectional water wave energy. Energy Environ Sci, 2020, 13: 277–285

    Google Scholar 

  20. Xiao T X, Liang X, Jiang T, et al. Spherical triboelectric nanogenerators based on spring-assisted multilayered structure for efficient water wave energy harvesting. Adv Funct Mater, 2018, 28: 1802634

    Google Scholar 

  21. Xu L, Jiang T, Lin P, et al. Coupled triboelectric nanogenerator networks for efficient water wave energy harvesting. ACS Nano, 2018, 12: 1849–1858

    Google Scholar 

  22. Wang Z L, Chen J, Lin L. Progress in triboelectric nanogenerators as a new energy technology and self-powered sensors. Energy Environ Sci, 2015, 8: 2250–2282

    Google Scholar 

  23. Wang Z L, Jiang T, Xu L. Toward the blue energy dream by triboelectric nanogenerator networks. Nano Energy, 2017, 39: 9–23

    Google Scholar 

  24. Wu C, Wang A C, Ding W, et al. Triboelectric nanogenerator: A foundation of the energy for the new era. Adv Energy Mater, 2019, 9: 1802906

    Google Scholar 

  25. Niu S, Wang S, Lin L, et al. Theoretical study of contact-mode triboelectric nanogenerators as an effective power source. Energy Environ Sci, 2013, 6: 3576–3583

    Google Scholar 

  26. Niu S, Liu Y, Wang S, et al. Theory of sliding-mode triboelectric nanogenerators. Adv Mater, 2013, 25: 6184–6193

    Google Scholar 

  27. Niu S, Liu Y, Wang S, et al. Theoretical investigation and structural optimization of single-electrode triboelectric nanogenerators. Adv Funct Mater, 2014, 24: 3332–3340

    Google Scholar 

  28. Niu S, Liu Y, Chen X, et al. Theory of freestanding triboelectric-layer-based nanogenerators. Nano Energy, 2015, 12: 760–774

    Google Scholar 

  29. Wang Z L. On Maxwell’s displacement current for energy and sensors: the origin of nanogenerators. Mater Today, 2017, 20: 74–82

    Google Scholar 

  30. Wang Z L. On the first principle theory of nanogenerators from Maxwell’s equations. Nano Energy, 2020, 68: 104272

    Google Scholar 

  31. Shao J, Willatzen M, Shi Y, et al. 3D mathematical model of contact-separation and single-electrode mode triboelectric nanogenerators. Nano Energy, 2019, 60: 630–640

    Google Scholar 

  32. Shao J, Willatzen M, Jiang T, et al. Quantifying the power output and structural figure-of-merits of triboelectric nanogenerators in a charging system starting from the Maxwell’s displacement current. Nano Energy, 2019, 59: 380–389

    Google Scholar 

  33. Shao J, Liu D, Willatzen M, et al. Three-dimensional modeling of alternating current triboelectric nanogenerator in the linear sliding mode. Appl Phys Rev, 2020, 7: 011405

    Google Scholar 

  34. Dharmasena R D I G, Jayawardena K D G I, Mills C A, et al. Triboelectric nanogenerators: 0roviding a fundamental framework. Energy Environ Sci, 2017, 10: 1801–1811

    Google Scholar 

  35. Maxwell J C. On physical lines of force. Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science, Fourth series, London, Edinburg and Dubline, 1861, 21: 161–175

    Google Scholar 

  36. Niu S, Wang S, Liu Y, et al. A theoretical study of grating structured triboelectric nanogenerators. Energy Environ Sci, 2014, 7: 2339–2349

    Google Scholar 

  37. Niu S, Zhou Y S, Wang S, et al. Simulation method for optimizing the performance of an integrated triboelectric nanogenerator energy harvesting system. Nano Energy, 2014, 8: 150–156

    Google Scholar 

  38. Niu S M, Liu Y, Zhou Y S, et al. Optimization of triboelectric nanogenerator charging systems for efficient energy harvesting and storage. IEEE Trans Electron Devices, 2015, 62: 641–647

    Google Scholar 

  39. Jiang T, Chen X, Han C B, et al. Theoretical study of rotary freestanding triboelectric nanogenerators. Adv Funct Mater, 2015, 25: 2928–2938

    Google Scholar 

  40. Jiang T, Chen X, Yang K, et al. Theoretical study on rotary-sliding disk triboelectric nanogenerators in contact and non-contact modes. Nano Res, 2016, 9: 1057–1070

    Google Scholar 

  41. Yao Y, Jiang T, Zhang L, et al. Charging system optimization of triboelectric nanogenerator for water wave energy harvesting and storage. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2016, 8: 21398–21406

    Google Scholar 

  42. Shao J J, Tang W, Jiang T, et al. A multi-dielectric-layered triboelectric nanogenerator as energized by corona discharge. Nanoscale, 2017, 9: 9668–9675

    Google Scholar 

  43. Shao J, Jiang T, Tang W, et al. Studying about applied force and the output performance of sliding-mode triboelectric nanogenerators. Nano Energy, 2018, 48: 292–300

    Google Scholar 

  44. Niu S, Wang Z L. Theoretical systems of triboelectric nanogenerators. Nano Energy, 2015, 14: 161–192

    Google Scholar 

  45. Li X, Lau T H, Guan D, et al. A universal method for quantitative analysis of triboelectric nanogenerators. J Mater Chem A, 2019, 7: 19485–19494

    Google Scholar 

  46. Zi Y, Niu S, Wang J, et al. Standards and figure-of-merits for quantifying the performance of triboelectric nanogenerators. Nat Commun, 2015, 6: 8376

    Google Scholar 

  47. Jiang T, Tang W, Chen X, et al. Figures-of-merit for rolling-friction-based triboelectric nanogenerators. Adv Mater Technol, 2016, 1: 1600017

    Google Scholar 

  48. Zou H, Zhang Y, Guo L, et al. Quantifying the triboelectric series. Nat Commun, 2019, 10: 1427

    Google Scholar 

  49. Shao J, Jiang T, Tang W, et al. Structural figure-of-merits of triboelectric nanogenerators at powering loads. Nano Energy, 2018, 51: 688–697

    Google Scholar 

  50. Peng J, Kang S D, Snyder G J. Optimization principles and the figure of merit for triboelectric generators. Sci Adv, 2017, 3: eaap8576

    Google Scholar 

  51. Yang Y, Zhu D, Yan W, et al. A general theoretical and experimental framework for nanoscale electromagnetism. Nature, 2019, 576: 248–252

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100083, China

    JiaJia Shao, Tao Jiang & ZhongLin Wang

  2. School of Nanoscience and Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    JiaJia Shao, Tao Jiang & ZhongLin Wang

  3. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0245, USA

    ZhongLin Wang

Authors
  1. JiaJia Shao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tao Jiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. ZhongLin Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to ZhongLin Wang.

Additional information

This work was supported by the National Key R&D Project from Minister of Science and Technology, China (Grant No. 2016YFA0202704), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51432005, 51702018, and 51561145021), Youth Innovation Promotion Association, CAS, and China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant No. 2019M660766). We thank our group members and collaborators for their contributions to the work reviewed here, especially Yunlong Zi, Simiao Niu, Morten Willatzen, Wei Tang, and Haiyang Zou.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Shao, J., Jiang, T. & Wang, Z. Theoretical foundations of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). Sci. China Technol. Sci. 63, 1087–1109 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-020-1604-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-020-1604-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation