Magnetically Aligned Nanocomposites: A Route to Enhanced TENG Sensors

Sensing and clean energy advancements increase demands for efficient mechanical energy harvesting in self-powered microdevices. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) represent viable solutions, but their performance critically depends on the triboelectric layer design. Herein, MWCNTs/Fe₃O₄ composite fillers (MAG-MWCNTs) were prepared via in situ growth of Fe₃O₄ on multiwalled carbon nanotubes, incorporated into poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), and magnetically oriented to construct high-performance TENGs. The magnetically aligned structure significantly enhanced compressive properties and electrical output: at 0.75 wt % loading, the open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, and charge quantity reached 8.2-fold, 7.7-fold, and 4.7-fold those of pure PDMS devices, respectively, with excellent stability across frequencies and pressures. This work reveals the intrinsic mechanism of magnetic orientation in regulating TENG performance, providing new insights for optimization.