Design Optimization of the Bouncing Ball Structure Triboelectric Nanogenerator on CFRP Plate Under Low‐Frequency, Low‐Amplitude Vibration

ABSTRACT Efficiently converting low‐frequency, low‐amplitude mechanical vibrations from bridge structures into electricity using triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) remains challenging. In this study, a bouncing ball structure TENG (BB‐TENG) was designed and optimized to improve energy conversion under such weak vibrations. Dynamic simulations and experiments showed that the elastic modulus and mass density of the bouncing ball material are key factors affecting its vibration amplitude and the BB‐TENG's output performance. Experimental results demonstrated that TENG on carbon fiber reinforced polymer plate (TENG‐CFRP) incorporating polypropylene (PP) balls exhibited significantly enhanced electrical performance compared to those using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and silicone balls. This improvement was due to the higher elastic modulus and lower density of PP balls, which increased contact force and acceleration during collisions, resulting in greater vibration amplitude and more effective charge transfer. Under 18 Hz, 2 mm excitation in a natural laboratory environment, the PP‐based device achieved a V oc of 7.53 V and an I sc of 0.71 μA, with increases of 323.0% and 1134.4% in voltage and 12.7% and 77.5% in current compared to PTFE and silicone‐based devices. Moreover, the PP ball offers a low‐cost option for large‐scale production, making it ideal for TENG‐CFRP devices aimed at harvesting vibration energy from bridges.