Effect of Redox Atmosphere on Contact Electrification of Polymers

Lin Lin Sun, Shi Quan Lin, Wei Tang*, Xi Chen*, Zhong Lin Wang*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The Triboelectric Nanogenerator has demonstrated broad applications in energy, environmental, and electronic fields, as well as huge potential in the mechanism study of contact electrification, since 2012. Herein, we employed a Triboelectric Nanogenerator working in vertical contact-separation mode to study the electrification performance of the polymer under redox atmosphere. The results show that the electron-withdrawing ability of the polymer is weakened with increasing O3 concentration. Considering that O3 is typically one of the strongest oxidants, we further studied the electrification performance under H2, CO, and O2 atmosphere. It is found that the electron-withdrawing ability was predictably weakened under O2 atmosphere similar to the case of O3. On the contrary, the electron-withdrawing ability was enhanced under H2 and CO atmosphere. Accordingly, a theoretical mechanism involving the highest occupied surface state level is proposed to explain the effect of redox atmosphere on contact electrification. These results clarify that contact electrification can be varied by redox agents. Conversely, it also suggests the possibility to manipulate the redox reactions through the modification of contact electrification.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)17354-17364
Number of pages11
JournalACS Nano
Volume14
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 22 Dec 2020

Keywords

  • electron-withdrawing ability
  • near space
  • polymer electrification
  • redox atmosphere
  • triboelectric nanogenerator

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