Output enhancement of triboelectric energy harvester by micro-porous triboelectric layer

A micro-porous polymer film is utilized as a triboelectric layer of triboelectric energy harvester. The relationship between porosity of the triboelectric layer and output characteristics is analyzed for the first time. There are two key parameters found to influence the output performance of the triboelectric energy harvester: the surface charge density and effective capacitance of the triboelectric layer. Experiment, modeling, and simulation based on electrodynamics are performed to investigate how the two parameters affect the output performance.