Probing Contact Electrification: A Cohesively Sticky Problem

Contact electrification and the triboelectric effect are complex processes for mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion, particularly highly deformable polymers. While generating relatively low power density, contact can occur at contact-separation interface between nearly any two polymer surfaces. This ubiquitousness of surfaces enables to be an important phenomenon understand conversion harvesting applications. The mechanism charge generation polymeric materials remains ambiguous, with electron transfer, material (also known as mass) adsorbed chemical species transfer (including induced ionization water other molecules) all being proposed primary source measured charge. Often, sources charge, except dismissed in case harvesters, leading series, governed by ability a lose, or accept, electron. Here, this sole focus on is challenged through rigorous experiments, measuring density polymer-polymer (196 combinations), polymer-glass (14 polymers), polymer-liquid metal polymers) systems. Through investigation these interfaces, clear evidence via heterolytic bond cleavage provided. Based results, generalized model considering cohesive polymers critical parameter discussed. discussion clearly shows that must accounted when discussing generated mechanical harvesters. Thus, correlated physical property series