A composite triboelectric nanogenerator based on flexible and transparent film impregnated with ZIF-8 nanocrystals

Abstract The triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), based on the triboelectrification coupled with electrostatic induction, can directly convert ambient mechanical energy into electric energy. However, the output performance of TENG is still low and demands further improvement to speed up the commercial application. In this work, we demonstrate a TENG based on a flexible and transparent composite film made of PDMS and ZIF-8. When the amount of the ZIF-8 is 4 wt%, the generated output current and voltage of the TENG are gradually increased up to 16.3 μ A and 176 V, which are 210% and 230% higher than that of TENG without ZIF-8, respectively. Impregnated ZIF-8 which exhibits a positive polarity lowers the effective work function of the PDMS and enhance the surface charge density, verified by Kelvin probe force microscope measurement.