Enhanced Performance of Microarchitectured PTFE-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator via Simple Thermal Imprinting Lithography for Self-Powered Electronics

Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) technology is an emerging field to harvest various kinds of mechanical energies available in our living environment. Nowadays, for industrial and large-scale area applications, developing the TENG with low device processing cost and high electrical output is a major issue to be resolved. Herein, we designed a TENG with low cost by employing the microgrooved architectured (MGA)-poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE; Teflon) and aluminum as triboelectric materials with opposite tendencies. Moreover, the MGA-PTFE was fabricated by a single-step, facile, and cost-effective thermal imprinting lithography technique via micropyramidal textured silicon as a master mold, fabricated by a wet-chemical etching method. Therefore, designing the TENG device by following these techniques can definitely reduce its manufacturing cost. Additionally, the electrical output of TENG was enhanced by adjusting the imprinting parameters of MGA-PTFE. Consequently, the MGA-PTFE was optimized at an imprinting pressure and temperature of 5 MPa and 280 °C, respectively. Thus, the TENG with an optimal MGA-PTFE polymer exhibited the highest electrical output. A robustness test of TENG was also performed, and its output power was used to drive light-emitting diodes and portable electronic devices. Finally, the real application of TENG was also examined by employing it as a smart floor and object-falling detector.