Theoretical modelling for enhancing contact-separation triboelectric nanogenerator performance

Triboelectric Nanogenerator (TENG) is a device which collects mechanical energy naturally wasted through ordinary daily human activities and converts it into useful electrical energy. Although extensive practical investigations have been made aiming at achieving better performance, theoretical studies have not taken its share of importance yet. In the present work a theoretical model for contact-separation mode TENG is presented and demonstrated. This model could be helpful in improving the performance of TENG through controlling its parameters. Previous theoretical work has mainly focused on optimizing the delivered maximum instantaneous power to the load and has not given much attention to the delivered energy. However, delivered energy to the load is very important aspect in any electrical device as it decides its efficiency. In this work a theoretical model is presented to predict the performance and different output characteristics including charge, current, potential difference and power of the TENG. This model can be used to optimize and enhance the performance of the TENGs by adjusting the load resistance, the average velocity of the moving electrode, the thicknesses of the electrodes and the relative permittivity to deliver maximum energy to the load. Numerical application is given through a case study to realize the effectiveness of the suggested model.