Fabrication and performance study of triboelectric nanogenerators based on PDMS@TiO 2 nanocomposite films

Abstract Energy is the lifeblood of technological and economic development. To reduce carbon emissions, protect the environment, and achieve the goals of “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality,” renewable energy harvesting technologies will become a critical solution. Triboelectric Nanogenerators (TENGs) have emerged as a response to this need. A PDMS@TiO 2 nanocomposite film with high dielectric properties was prepared by doping polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) driver compound with titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nanoparticles at varying mass fractions. The output performance of the TENG was tested and analyzed across different TiO 2 contents. Results indicate that the output performance of the triboelectric nanogenerator reaches its optimum when the mass fraction of doped TiO 2 nanoparticles is 4 wt%. The maximum open-circuit voltage was achieved at 72.85 V, and the maximum short-circuit current reached 7.89 μA, representing 1.6 times and 1.8 times the open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current of the pure PDMS membrane without TiO 2 nanoparticles, respectively.