IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v16y2025i1d10.1038_s41467-025-59927-4.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Field emission effect in triboelectric nanogenerators

Author

Listed:
  • Di Liu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

  • Yikui Gao

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Wenyan Qiao

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Linglin Zhou

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Huangpu District)

  • Lixia He

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Cuiying Ye

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Bingzhe Jin

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Baofeng Zhang

    (Hubei University of Automotive Technology)

  • Zhong Lin Wang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Yonsei University)

  • Jie Wang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Huangpu District)

Abstract

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have garnered increasing attention due to their exceptional ability to convert mechanical energy into electricity. Previous understanding is that the electric performance of TENGs is primarily restricted by contact electrification, air breakdown, and dielectric breakdown effects. Here, we have discovered the occurrence of field emission arising from contact electrification and identified its limitation on surface charge density, subsequently impacting the output performance of TENGs. More importantly, we reveal that field emission occurs prior to dielectric breakdown, introducing a new limitation for TENGs performance. By suppressing the field emission effect, an ultrahigh charge density in contact electrification, reaching up to 2.816 mC m−2, is achieved, significantly exceeding previous reports. Additionally, we show that by regulating the field emission effect, TENGs could produce an energy density over 10 J m−2. These findings are crucial for improving TENG’s performance and enhancing the understanding of contact electrification.

Suggested Citation

  • Di Liu & Yikui Gao & Wenyan Qiao & Linglin Zhou & Lixia He & Cuiying Ye & Bingzhe Jin & Baofeng Zhang & Zhong Lin Wang & Jie Wang, 2025. "Field emission effect in triboelectric nanogenerators," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-59927-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59927-4
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59927-4
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-025-59927-4?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mohammad Samizadeh Nikoo & Armin Jafari & Nirmana Perera & Minghua Zhu & Giovanni Santoruvo & Elison Matioli, 2020. "Publisher Correction: Nanoplasma-enabled picosecond switches for ultrafast electronics," Nature, Nature, vol. 580(7803), pages 8-8, April.
    2. Wenlin Liu & Zhao Wang & Gao Wang & Guanlin Liu & Jie Chen & Xianjie Pu & Yi Xi & Xue Wang & Hengyu Guo & Chenguo Hu & Zhong Lin Wang, 2019. "Integrated charge excitation triboelectric nanogenerator," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Hao Wu & Steven Wang & Zuankai Wang & Yunlong Zi, 2021. "Achieving ultrahigh instantaneous power density of 10 MW/m2 by leveraging the opposite-charge-enhanced transistor-like triboelectric nanogenerator (OCT-TENG)," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-8, December.
    4. Jie Wang & Shengming Li & Fang Yi & Yunlong Zi & Jun Lin & Xiaofeng Wang & Youlong Xu & Zhong Lin Wang, 2016. "Sustainably powering wearable electronics solely by biomechanical energy," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-8, November.
    5. Di Liu & Linglin Zhou & Shengnan Cui & Yikui Gao & Shaoxin Li & Zhihao Zhao & Zhiying Yi & Haiyang Zou & Youjun Fan & Jie Wang & Zhong Lin Wang, 2022. "Standardized measurement of dielectric materials’ intrinsic triboelectric charge density through the suppression of air breakdown," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    6. Mohammad Samizadeh Nikoo & Armin Jafari & Nirmana Perera & Minghua Zhu & Giovanni Santoruvo & Elison Matioli, 2020. "Nanoplasma-enabled picosecond switches for ultrafast electronics," Nature, Nature, vol. 579(7800), pages 534-539, March.
    7. Jinsung Chun & Byeong Uk Ye & Jae Won Lee & Dukhyun Choi & Chong-Yun Kang & Sang-Woo Kim & Zhong Lin Wang & Jeong Min Baik, 2016. "Boosted output performance of triboelectric nanogenerator via electric double layer effect," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-9, December.
    8. Wenlin Liu & Zhao Wang & Gao Wang & Qixuan Zeng & Wencong He & Liyu Liu & Xue Wang & Yi Xi & Hengyu Guo & Chenguo Hu & Zhong Lin Wang, 2020. "Switched-capacitor-convertors based on fractal design for output power management of triboelectric nanogenerator," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    9. Zhaoqi Liu & Yunzhi Huang & Yuxiang Shi & Xinglin Tao & Hezhi He & Feida Chen & Zhao-Xia Huang & Zhong Lin Wang & Xiangyu Chen & Jin-Ping Qu, 2022. "Fabrication of triboelectric polymer films via repeated rheological forging for ultrahigh surface charge density," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    10. Li Cheng & Qi Xu & Youbin Zheng & Xiaofeng Jia & Yong Qin, 2018. "A self-improving triboelectric nanogenerator with improved charge density and increased charge accumulation speed," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-8, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yikui Gao & Lixia He & Di Liu & Jiayue Zhang & Linglin Zhou & Zhong Lin Wang & Jie Wang, 2024. "Spontaneously established reverse electric field to enhance the performance of triboelectric nanogenerators via improving Coulombic efficiency," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Di Liu & Linglin Zhou & Shengnan Cui & Yikui Gao & Shaoxin Li & Zhihao Zhao & Zhiying Yi & Haiyang Zou & Youjun Fan & Jie Wang & Zhong Lin Wang, 2022. "Standardized measurement of dielectric materials’ intrinsic triboelectric charge density through the suppression of air breakdown," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Xiang Li & Roujuan Li & Shaoxin Li & Zhong Lin Wang & Di Wei, 2024. "Triboiontronics with temporal control of electrical double layer formation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Baheej Bathish & Raanan Gad & Fan Cheng & Kristoffer Karlsson & Ramgopal Madugani & Mark Douvidzon & Síle Nic Chormaic & Tal Carmon, 2023. "Absorption-induced transmission in plasma microphotonics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-7, December.
    5. Zhou, Han & Liu, Guoxu & Bu, Tianzhao & Wang, Zheng & Cao, Jie & Wang, Zhaozheng & Zhang, Zhi & Dong, Sicheng & Zeng, Jianhua & Cao, Xiaoxin & Zhang, Chi, 2024. "Autonomous cantilever buck switch for ultra-efficient power management of triboelectric nanogenerator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 357(C).
    6. Fenghao Sun & Qiwen Qu & Hui Li & Shicheng Jiang & Qingcao Liu & Shuai Ben & Yu Pei & Jiaying Liang & Jiawei Wang & Shanshan Song & Jian Gao & Weifeng Yang & Hongxing Xu & Jian Wu, 2024. "All-optical steering on the proton emission in laser-induced nanoplasmas," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-7, December.
    7. Xin Xia & Ziqing Zhou & Yinghui Shang & Yong Yang & Yunlong Zi, 2023. "Metallic glass-based triboelectric nanogenerators," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    8. Li, Yanhong & Guo, Ziting & Zhao, Zhihao & Gao, Yikui & Yang, Peiyuan & Qiao, Wenyan & Zhou, Linglin & Wang, Jie & Wang, Zhong Lin, 2023. "Multi-layered triboelectric nanogenerator incorporated with self-charge excitation for efficient water wave energy harvesting," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 336(C).
    9. Yi Li & Yi Luo & Song Xiao & Cheng Zhang & Cheng Pan & Fuping Zeng & Zhaolun Cui & Bangdou Huang & Ju Tang & Tao Shao & Xiaoxing Zhang & Jiaqing Xiong & Zhong Lin Wang, 2024. "Visualization and standardized quantification of surface charge density for triboelectric materials," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    10. Hales, Jan & Kemper, Joya & White, Samantha K. & Veer, Ekant, 2024. "Reflections on food policy in the context of healthy and sustainable diets," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    11. Jiang, Dongyue & Xu, Minyi & Dong, Ming & Guo, Fei & Liu, Xiaohua & Chen, Guijun & Wang, Zhong Lin, 2019. "Water-solid triboelectric nanogenerators: An alternative means for harvesting hydropower," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    12. María José Viana Cleves & Gerardo Barbosa Castillo & Andrés Rolando Ciro Gómez & Édgar Solano González, 2022. "Líneas estructurales para la Fuerza Pública: medioambiente e inteligencia militar," Books, Universidad Externado de Colombia, Facultad de Derecho, number 1330, December.
    13. Jiayue Zhang & Yikui Gao & Di Liu & Jing-Shan Zhao & Jie Wang, 2023. "Discharge domains regulation and dynamic processes of direct-current triboelectric nanogenerator," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    14. Wang, Chen & Chai, Hongfei & Li, Gaolei & Wang, Wei & Tian, Ruilan & Wen, Gui-Lin & Wang, Chun H. & Lai, Siu-Kai, 2024. "Boosting biomechanical and wave energy harvesting efficiency through a novel triple hybridization of piezoelectric, electromagnetic, and triboelectric generators," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 374(C).
    15. Yupeng Mao & Yongsheng Zhu & Tianming Zhao & Changjun Jia & Xiao Wang & Qi Wang, 2021. "Portable Mobile Gait Monitor System Based on Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Monitoring Gait and Powering Electronics," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-12, August.
    16. Zou, Hong-Xiang & Zhu, Quan-Wei & He, Jia-Yi & Zhao, Lin-Chuan & Wei, Ke-Xiang & Zhang, Wen-Ming & Du, Rong-Hua & Liu, Sheng, 2024. "Energy harvesting floor using sustained-release regulation mechanism for self-powered traffic management," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 353(PA).
    17. Jiatong Chen & Bin Bao & Jinlong Liu & Yufei Wu & Quan Wang, 2022. "Pendulum Energy Harvesters: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-26, November.
    18. Zhuo Wang & Xinyu Wu & Yu Zhang & Youfu Liu & Yida Liu & Wujing Cao & Chunjie Chen, 2020. "A New Portable Energy Harvesting Device Mounted on Shoes: Performance and Impact on Wearer," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-14, July.
    19. Yar, Adem & Karabiber, Abdulkerim & Ozen, Abdurrahman & Ozel, Faruk & Coskun, Sahin, 2020. "Flexible nanofiber based triboelectric nanogenerators with high power conversion," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 1428-1437.
    20. Vidal, João V. & Rolo, Pedro & Carneiro, Pedro M.R. & Peres, Inês & Kholkin, Andrei L. & Soares dos Santos, Marco P., 2022. "Automated electromagnetic generator with self-adaptive structure by coil switching," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 325(C).

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-59927-4. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.