Plasticizer structural effect for sustainable and high-performance PVC gel-based triboelectric nanogenerators

Abstract

A triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) produces electrical energy by the accumulation of electric charges when two different materials rub against each other. In this study, the characteristics, and stabilities of adipate PVC gels with different adipate plasticizers were investigated for the development of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) for sustainable energy harvesting. Various plasticizers with different numbers of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain were used to synthesize PVC gels, and their triboelectric properties, permittivities, and electrical conductivities were evaluated. In particular, we investigated the relationship between the surface charge dissipation rate and electrical resistivity of the PVC gel, which can maximize the TENG performance. The DOA5-based PVC gel TENG showed the highest output performance (198 V, 15.6 µA, and 384 µW/cm2) and stable output performance without plasticizer leakage for over 30 days at a high temperature. The developed TENG can be used as a power source for small electronic devices, maintaining a stable and high-output performance with high durability, making it ideal for self-powered systems in harsh environments requiring continuous power supply. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd