Tuning the Dielectric Constant and Surface Engineering of a BaTiO₃/Porous PDMS Composite Film for Enhanced...

In this work, synergistic effects derived from surface engineering and dielectric property tuning were exploited to enhance the output performance of a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) based on an inorganic/porous PDMS composite in a contact-separation mode. BaTiO₃ (BT)/porous PDMS films with different BT weight ratios were fabricated and evaluated for triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) application. Maximum output signals of ca. 2500 V, 150 μA, and a power density of 1.2 W m^-2 are achieved from the TENG containing 7 wt % BT, which is the best compromise in terms of surface roughness, dielectric constant, and surface contact area as evidenced by SEM and AFM studies. These electrical signals are 2 times higher than those observed for the TENG without BT. The 7BT/porous PDMS-based TENG also shows high stability without a significant loss of output voltage for at least 24 000 cycles. With this optimized TENG, more than 350 LEDs are lit up and a wireless transmitter is operated within 9 s. This work not only shows the promoting effects from porous surfaces and an optimized dielectric constant but also offers a rapid and template/waste-free fabrication process for porous PDMS composite films toward large-scale production.