Scientific Session: Zhong Lin Wang

Abstract:

Contact electrification (CE) (or usually called “triboelectrification”) effect, the most fundamental effect for electricity, has been known for over 2600 years since ancient Greek time, but its scientific mechanism remains unclear. The study of triboelectrification is recently revived due to the invention of the triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) by using the coupling of triboelectrification and electrostatic induction effects, which is the most effective approach for converting mechanical energy into electricity for powering small sensors. TENG is playing a vitally important role in the distributed energy and self-powered systems, with applications in internet of things, environmental/infrastructural monitoring, medical science, environmental science and security. 

In this talk, we first present the physics mechanism of triboelectrification for general materials. Our model is extended to liquid-solid contact electrification, reviving the classical understanding about the formation of electric double layers. Secondly, the fundamental theory of the TENGs is explored based on a group of reformulated Maxwell equations. In the Maxwell’s displacement current proposed in 1861, the term e¶E/¶t gives the birth of electromagnetic wave, which is the foundation of wireless communication, radar and later the information technology. Our study indicates that, owing to the presence of surface polarization charges present on the surfaces of the dielectric media in TENG, an additional term ¶P_s/¶t that is due to non-electric field induced polarization should be added in the Maxwell’s displacement current, which is the output electric current of the TENG. Therefore, our TENGs are the applications of Maxwell’s displacement current in energy and sensors. We will present the applications of the TENGs for harvesting all kind mechanical energy that is available but wasted in our daily life, such as human motion, walking, vibration, mechanical triggering, rotating tire, wind, flowing water and more. Then, we will illustrate the networks based on triboelectric TENGs for harvesting ocean water wave energy, for exploring its possibility as a sustainable large-scale blue energy. Lastly, we will show that TENGs as self-powered sensors for actively detecting the static and dynamic processes arising from mechanical agitation using the voltage and current output signals.

[1] Z.L. Wang and A.C. Wang “On the origin of contact electrification“ (Review), Materials Today, 30 (2019) 34-51; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mattod.2019.05.016

[2] Z.L. Wang, “On the first principle theory of nanaogenerators from Maxwell’s equations“, Nano Energy, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2019.104272

[3]  J. Nie, Z. Ren, L. Xu, S. Lin, F. Zhan, X. Chen*, and Z.L. Wang* “Probing Contact Electrification Induced Electron and Ion Transfers at a Liquid-Solid Interface”, Adv. Mater. 2019, 1905696; https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201905696

[4] Z.L. Wang, L. Lin, J. Chen. S.M. Niu, Y.L. Zi “Triboelectric Nanogenerators”, Springer, 2016. http://www.springer.com/us/book/9783319400389

[5] Z.L. Wang “Triboelectric Nanogenerators as New Energy Technology for Self-Powered Systems and as Active Mechanical and Chemical Sensors”, ACS Nano 7 (2013) 9533-9557.

[6] Z.L. Wang, J. Chen, L. Lin “Progress in triboelectric nanogenertors as new energy technology and self-powered sensors”, Energy & Environmental Sci, 8 (2015) 2250-2282.