Modeling contact electrification in triboelectric impact oscillators as energy harvesters

Hongcheng Tao; Gregory Batt; James Gibert

doi:10.1117/12.2513949

27 March 2019 Modeling contact electrification in triboelectric impact oscillators as energy harvesters

Hongcheng Tao, Gregory Batt, James Gibert

Proceedings Volume 10970, Sensors and Smart Structures Technologies for Civil, Mechanical, and Aerospace Systems 2019; 109700U (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2513949
Event: SPIE Smart Structures + Nondestructive Evaluation, 2019, Denver, Colorado, United States

Abstract

Triboelectric energy harvesters or nanogenerators exploit both contact electrification and electrostatic induction to scavenge excess energy from random motions of mechanical structures. This study focuses on the modeling of triboelectric energy harvesters in the configuration of contact-separation impact oscillators. While mechanical and electrostatic elements in such systems can be satisfactorily modeled based on existing theories, the underlying physics of contact electrification is still under debate. The aim of this work is to introduce the surface charge density of dielectric layers as a variable into the macroscopic equations of motion of triboelectric impact oscillators by experimentally investigating the relation between the impact force and the charge transfer during contact electrification. Specifically, specimens with selected pairs of materials are put under a solenoid-driven pressing tester which charges the specimens with a vertical force whose magnitude, frequency and duty cycle can be controlled. An electrometer is used to monitor the short circuit charge ow between the electrodes from which the charge accumulation on dielectric layers can be extracted. With results from parameter-sweep tests, the produced map from contact force to surface charge density can be integrated into equations of motion via curve fitting or interpolation.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Hongcheng Tao, Gregory Batt, and James Gibert "Modeling contact electrification in triboelectric impact oscillators as energy harvesters", Proc. SPIE 10970, Sensors and Smart Structures Technologies for Civil, Mechanical, and Aerospace Systems 2019, 109700U (27 March 2019); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2513949

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