Giant Voltage Enhancement via Triboelectric Charge Supplement Channel for Self-Powered Electroadhesion.

Electroadhesion generates an adhesion force using an externally applied power source, which has versatile applications in robotics and material handling. In this study, a self-powered electroadhesion system using enhanced triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) to supply power for electroadhesion is presented. By introducing a triboelectric charge supplement channel, the open circuit voltage of the TENG can be significantly boosted by over 10 times, from ∼230 V to more than 3300 V for a single TENG unit, providing sufficiently high voltage for an electroadhesive patch to generate enough adhesion for practical use. The charge supplement channel takes effect through a replenishing mechanism for dissipated charges, maintaining an optimal charge distribution throughout TENG electrodes, which enables the highest open circuit voltage under given surface charge density and device configuration. The fabricated self-powered electroadhesion system shows the ability to manipulate objects of various materials via easy and straightforward operations, demonstrating a great potential for applications in material handling and robotics. Moreover, the voltage enhancement mechanism by the charge supplement channel could be extended to TENGs of other modes, which can provide reliable power sources for various applications that require a high voltage.

[1]  Tong Guo,et al.  Stretchable Triboelectric–Photonic Smart Skin for Tactile and Gesture Sensing , 2018, Advanced materials.

[2]  Tao Jiang,et al.  Universal power management strategy for triboelectric nanogenerator , 2017 .

[3]  Zhong Lin Wang,et al.  A universal self-charging system driven by random biomechanical energy for sustainable operation of mobile electronics , 2015, Nature Communications.

[4]  Jie Wang,et al.  Sustainably powering wearable electronics solely by biomechanical energy , 2016, Nature Communications.

[5]  Simiao Niu,et al.  Theoretical systems of triboelectric nanogenerators , 2015 .

[6]  Caofeng Pan,et al.  Significant Enhancement of Triboelectric Charge Density by Fluorinated Surface Modification in Nanoscale for Converting Mechanical Energy , 2015 .

[7]  Kazutoshi Asano,et al.  Fundamental study of an electrostatic chuck for silicon wafer handling , 1997, IAS '97. Conference Record of the 1997 IEEE Industry Applications Conference Thirty-Second IAS Annual Meeting.

[8]  Minhao Zhu,et al.  Lawn Structured Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Scavenging Sweeping Wind Energy on Rooftops , 2016, Advanced materials.

[9]  Wenzhuo Wu,et al.  Controlled Growth of Aligned Polymer Nanowires , 2009 .

[10]  R. Wood,et al.  Perching and takeoff of a robotic insect on overhangs using switchable electrostatic adhesion , 2016, Science.

[11]  D. Rus,et al.  Design, fabrication and control of soft robots , 2015, Nature.

[12]  Shane K. Mitchell,et al.  Hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatic actuators with muscle-like performance , 2018, Science.

[13]  Donald Ruffatto,et al.  Improving controllable adhesion on both rough and smooth surfaces with a hybrid electrostatic/gecko-like adhesive , 2014, Journal of The Royal Society Interface.

[14]  Li Zheng,et al.  Self‐Powered Electrostatic Actuation Systems for Manipulating the Movement of both Microfluid and Solid Objects by Using Triboelectric Nanogenerator , 2017 .

[15]  Jun Chen,et al.  Harmonic‐Resonator‐Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator as a Sustainable Power Source and a Self‐Powered Active Vibration Sensor , 2013, Advanced materials.

[16]  Wei Tang,et al.  Multilayered electret films based triboelectric nanogenerator , 2016, Nano Research.

[17]  Hua Shen,et al.  Wall Climbing Robot Using Electrostatic Adhesion Force Generated by Flexible Interdigital Electrodes , 2013 .

[18]  Zhong Lin Wang,et al.  Direct probing of contact electrification by using optical second harmonic generation technique , 2015, Scientific Reports.

[19]  J. Petzing,et al.  Experimental study of a flexible and environmentally stable electroadhesive device , 2017 .

[20]  Gareth J. Monkman.  An Analysis of Astrictive Prehension , 1997, Int. J. Robotics Res..

[21]  D. Floreano,et al.  Versatile Soft Grippers with Intrinsic Electroadhesion Based on Multifunctional Polymer Actuators , 2016, Advanced materials.

[22]  Nicholas Kellaris,et al.  Peano-HASEL actuators: Muscle-mimetic, electrohydraulic transducers that linearly contract on activation , 2018, Science Robotics.

[23]  Zhong Lin Wang,et al.  Coupled Triboelectric Nanogenerator Networks for Efficient Water Wave Energy Harvesting. , 2018, ACS nano.

[24]  Zhong Lin Wang,et al.  Theoretical study of contact-mode triboelectric nanogenerators as an effective power source , 2013 .

[25]  Tao Jiang,et al.  Toward the blue energy dream by triboelectric nanogenerator networks , 2017 .

[26]  Zhong Lin Wang,et al.  Progress in triboelectric nanogenerators as a new energy technology and self-powered sensors , 2015 .

[27]  Chang Bao Han,et al.  Triboelectric Nanogenerators as a Self-Powered 3D Acceleration Sensor. , 2015, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[28]  Yaokun Pang,et al.  Tribotronic Transistor Array as an Active Tactile Sensing System. , 2016, ACS nano.

[29]  Mats Jackson,et al.  Optimization and experimental verification of coplanar interdigital electroadhesives , 2016 .

[30]  Zhong Lin Wang,et al.  Theory of freestanding triboelectric-layer-based nanogenerators , 2015 .

[31]  Jianjun Luo,et al.  Integrated triboelectric nanogenerator array based on air-driven membrane structures for water wave energy harvesting , 2017 .

[32]  Zhong Lin Wang,et al.  Environmental life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis of triboelectric nanogenerators , 2017 .

[33]  Li Zheng,et al.  Self-powered modulation of elastomeric optical grating by using triboelectric nanogenerator , 2017 .

[34]  Yongan Huang,et al.  Energy Harvesters for Wearable and Stretchable Electronics: From Flexibility to Stretchability , 2016, Advanced materials.

[35]  Mengmeng Liu,et al.  Ultrastretchable, transparent triboelectric nanogenerator as electronic skin for biomechanical energy harvesting and tactile sensing , 2017, Science Advances.

[36]  Zhong Lin Wang.  Catch wave power in floating nets , 2017, Nature.

[37]  Zhong Lin Wang,et al.  Ultrahigh charge density realized by charge pumping at ambient conditions for triboelectric nanogenerators , 2018, Nano Energy.

[38]  Zhong Lin Wang.  Triboelectric nanogenerators as new energy technology and self-powered sensors - principles, problems and perspectives. , 2014, Faraday discussions.

[39]  Zhong Lin Wang,et al.  Achieving ultrahigh triboelectric charge density for efficient energy harvesting , 2017, Nature Communications.

[40]  Zhong Lin Wang.  On Maxwell's displacement current for energy and sensors: the origin of nanogenerators , 2017 .

[41]  Zhong Lin Wang,et al.  Flexible triboelectric generator , 2012 .