Ag seed layer effects on SnO2 thin films for triboelectric devices

Materials with triboelectric properties are critical to boosting the efficiency of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) by gathering power from waste force and mechanical movement. In this study, we explored tin-oxide (SnO2) thin films with silver (Ag) seed layer properties for friction surfaces at TENGs. Investigation of the triboelectric behavior of semi-conductor/polymer coupling structured TENGs formed by thin films with and without Ag seed layer after heat treatment was explored by X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and semi-logarithmic current-voltage measurements. Similar structural characterization studies were carried out in indium tin oxide coated polyethylene terephthalate film (PET/ITO) for the polymer friction layer. Semiconductor/polymer coupling structured TENG efficiency was evaluated in contact-separation mode and the output voltage-current was enhanced to 80 V, 4 μA, and 210 μW of output power calculated by depositing a SnO2 thin film on an Ag seed layer, respectively. Our findings offer a different perspective for synthesizing the semi-conductor/polymer coupling structured TENGs for promising applications in a range of application technologies.