Optimization of a low-cost paper-based triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG)

Abstract

A triboelectric nanogenerator, commonly called a TENG, harnesses the triboelectric effect to produce electricity when two oppositely charged layers come into contact with each other, through contact electrification between materials on opposite ends of the triboelectric series. In this paper, we examine a low-cost TENG operating in vertical contact-separation (VCS) mode, using a polyethylene (PE) book cover and A4 office paper, and focus on how surface area and layer spacing affect output. Two TENG designs, named TENG-sa and TENG-sd, were created with variations in these two variables and evaluated based on peak-to-peak voltage. For TENG-sa, the sample with the largest surface area (100 x 100 mm²) produced the highest output, with a V_pp of 168.59 V. In contrast, TENG-sd's highest separation distance (10mm) resulted in the highest V_pp of 54.20 V. The findings demonstrate that ordinary household materials can generate electricity and power small devices.