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Friction 2019, 7(1): 2-17 https://doi.org/10.1007/s40544-018-0217-7
Review Article | Open Access | Issue | Published: 10 August 2018

Fundamental theories and basic principles of triboelectric effect: A review

Show Author's Information Shuaihang PAN1,2,  Zhinan ZHANG1( )
 School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
 School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles 90095, USA
Keywords:
triboelectric effect, triboelectrification, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), interface
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PAN S, ZHANG Z. Fundamental theories and basic principles of triboelectric effect: A review. Friction, 2019, 7(1): 2-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40544-018-0217-7
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Abstract Full text About this article

Long-term observation of the triboelectric effect has not only proved the feasibility of many novel and useful tribo-devices (e.g., triboelectric nanogenerators), but also constantly motivated the exploration of its mysterious nature. In the pursuit of a comprehensive understanding of how the triboelectric process works, a more accurate description of the triboelectric effect and its related parameters and factors is urgently required. This review critically goes through the fundamental theories and basic principles governing the triboelectric process. By investigating the difference between each charging media, the electron, ion, and material transfer is discussed and the theoretical deduction in the past decades is provided. With the information from the triboelectric series, interesting phenomena including cyclic triboelectric sequence and asymmetric triboelectrification are precisely analyzed. Then, the interaction between the tribo-system and its operational environment is analyzed, and a fundamental description of its effects on the triboelectric process and results is summarized. In brief, this review is expected to provide a strong understanding of the triboelectric effect in a more rigorous mathematical and physical sense.


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About this article

Fundamental theories and basic principles of triboelectric effect: A review

Show Author's information Shuaihang PAN1,2, Zhinan ZHANG1( )
 School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
 School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles 90095, USA

Abstract

Long-term observation of the triboelectric effect has not only proved the feasibility of many novel and useful tribo-devices (e.g., triboelectric nanogenerators), but also constantly motivated the exploration of its mysterious nature. In the pursuit of a comprehensive understanding of how the triboelectric process works, a more accurate description of the triboelectric effect and its related parameters and factors is urgently required. This review critically goes through the fundamental theories and basic principles governing the triboelectric process. By investigating the difference between each charging media, the electron, ion, and material transfer is discussed and the theoretical deduction in the past decades is provided. With the information from the triboelectric series, interesting phenomena including cyclic triboelectric sequence and asymmetric triboelectrification are precisely analyzed. Then, the interaction between the tribo-system and its operational environment is analyzed, and a fundamental description of its effects on the triboelectric process and results is summarized. In brief, this review is expected to provide a strong understanding of the triboelectric effect in a more rigorous mathematical and physical sense.

Keywords: triboelectric effect, triboelectrification, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), interface

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Publication history

Received: 18 January 2018
Revised: 14 March 2018
Accepted: 10 April 2018
Published: 10 August 2018
Issue date: February 2019

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© The author(s) 2018

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51575340), State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication (No. LSL-1604) and the Shanghai Academy of Space Technology- Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Research Center of Advanced Aerospace Technology (USCAST2016-13). The authors gratefully acknowledge Tianlu Wang (PhD, ETH Zurich), Peng Zhang (PhD, UCLA), and Ning Yu (PhD, UCLA) for their useful comments and proofreading.

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