Triboelectric Nanogenerators

Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is a new energy technology for converting human kinetic and ambient mechanical energy into electricity. The principle of the TENG is based on triboelectrification and electrostatic induction, in which the induced triboelectric charges can generate a potential drop and drive electron flow by a mechanical force. Since invented in 2012, the TENG has made rapid research progress and demonstrated various potential applications. This chapter will first introduce the working principle and four fundamental modes of the TENG and emphatically present the different applications of the TENG, such as microscale power source for wearable and portable electronics, mega-scale power source by harvesting water wave energy, self-powered active sensors for internet of things, and triboelectric-voltage-controlled source for capacitive devices. The goal of this chapter is to provide the reader with general concept, principle and modes of the TENG as a new energy technology, and a broader overview of potential applications that can be utilized to harvest human kinetic and ambient mechanical energy.