3D Printing Your Own Triboelectric Generators
The concept of a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) might sound like a futuristic invention straight out of Starfleet Engineering, but it operates on a principle as simple as rubbing a balloon on your head. Essentially, when certain materials are subjected to friction, they accumulate electric charges that can generate short bursts of electrical energy, potentially harnessing it for practical use. In a recent paper authored by Leo N.Y. Cao, Erming Su, Zijie Xu, and Zhong Lin Wang, they detail a method for constructing a functional TENG using a standard desktop 3D printer, utilizing readily available filaments and PTFE beads.
What’s remarkable is the accessibility of the materials and the simplicity of the construction process. TENGs can be printed in various sizes and shapes, offering flexibility in design and application. The procedure involves using an electrically conductive PLA filament to create a base structure with integrated channels, pausing the print midway to insert PTFE beads, and alternating between conductive and insulating filaments to encapsulate the beads within the print.
As demonstrated by Leo N.Y. Cao, upon completion, the TENG is equipped with leads and subjected to shaking, initiating the movement of PTFE beads and potentially generating electrical pulses. However, despite its innovative approach, there’s a limitation to consider. Similar to the balloon experiment, TENGs produce high voltages but relatively low currents. For instance, a TENG containing 60 beads could yield pulses of up to 150 volts, highlighting the trade-off between voltage and current inherent in this technology.
Read more: 3D Printing Your Own Triboelectric Generators