Triboelectric nanogenerator for harvesting broadband kinetic impact energy

1. A triboelectric generator, comprising

(a) a first triboelectric member, including a first conductive layer and an insulating triboelectric material layer disposed on the first conductive layer, the triboelectric material layer including a first material that has a first position on a triboelectric series;

(b) an elastic member disposed against the triboelectric material layer of the triboelectric member, including a second conductive material, the elastic member having an elasticity that results in the elastic member being deformed when compressed and returning to an original non-deformed shape after being compressed, the second conductive material having a second position, different from the first position, on the triboelectric series; and

(c) a first load that is in electrical communication with the first conductive layer and with the second conductive material, so that when a force drives the first triboelectric member against the elastic member, thereby compressing the elastic member, and after the force is released from the first triboelectric member charges will flow between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer through the load.

2. The triboelectric generator of claim 1 , wherein the elastic member has an undulated shape.

3. The triboelectric generator of claim 1 , wherein the elastic member includes a dielectric layer disposed adjacent to the second conductive material.

4. The triboelectric generator of claim 3 , wherein the dielectric layer comprises a polyimide film.

5. The triboelectric generator of claim 1 , wherein the triboelectric material comprises PTFE and wherein the second conductive material comprises copper.

6. The triboelectric generator of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of nanoscale protrusions extending outwardly from the triboelectric material.

7. The triboelectric generator of claim 1 , wherein the first triboelectric member further comprises a substrate on which the first conductive layer is disposed.

8. The triboelectric generator of claim 1 , wherein the first conductive layer comprises copper and wherein the insulating triboelectric material layer comprises PTFE.

9. The triboelectric generator of claim 1 , wherein the elastic member includes a plurality of three dimensional shapes extending upwardly from a copper layer, each of the three dimensional shapes having an outer surface that includes copper.

10. The triboelectric generator of claim 9 , wherein each of the three dimensional shapes has a PDMS core.

11. The triboelectric generator of claim 9 , wherein each of the three dimensional shapes has a partially spherical shape.

12. An electrical generator, comprising:

(a) a first triboelectric member, including a first conductive layer and a triboelectric material layer disposed on the first conductive layer, the triboelectric material layer including a plurality of nanoscale protrusions extending outwardly therefrom, the triboelectric material layer including a first material that has a first position on a triboelectric series;

(b) an elastic member having an undulated shape disposed against the triboelectric material layer of the triboelectric member, including a dielectric layer and a second conductive layer disposed on the dielectric layer, the dielectric layer having an elasticity that results in the elastic member returning to the undulated shape after being compressed, the second conductive layer including a second material that has a second position, different from the first position, on the triboelectric series;

(c) a first load that is in electrical communication with the first conductive layer and with the second conductive layer, so that when a force drives the first triboelectric member against the elastic member, thereby compressing the elastic member, and after the force is released from the first triboelectric member charges will flow between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer through the load;

(d) a second triboelectric member spaced apart from the first triboelectric member, including a fourth conductive layer and a triboelectric material layer disposed on the third conductive layer, the triboelectric material layer including a plurality of nanoscale protrusions extending outwardly therefrom, the triboelectric material layer including the first material, the second triboelectric member disposed so that the plurality of nanoscale protrusions of the first triboelectric member face the plurality of nanoscale protrusions of the second triboelectric member and so that the elastic member is disposed there-between;

(e) a fourth conductive layer disposed on the dielectric layer opposite from the second conductive layer; and

(f) a second load that is in electrical communication with the third conductive layer and with the fourth conductive layer.

13. The electrical generator of claim 12 , wherein the triboelectric material layer comprises PTFE.

14. The electrical generator of claim 12 , wherein the first conductive layer comprises copper.

15. The electrical generator of claim 12 , wherein the second conductive layer comprises copper.

16. The electrical generator of claim 12 , wherein the dielectric layer comprises a polyimide film.