Development of triboelectric nanogenerator and mechanical energy harvesting using argon ion-implanted kapton, zinc oxide and kapton.

• Argon Ion Implantation on kapton is a more rigid and reliable technology. • Metal oxides such as zinc oxide add up to extend the conventional triboelectric series. • A simple vertical contact separate triboelectric nanogenerator is designed. • Biomechanical energy and powering low-power electronics is demonstrated. The triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is a widely used energy-harvesting unit for self-power applications. The electrical output performance of the TENG could be significantly improved by ion implantation and explore new triboelectric materials beyond the conventional triboelectric series. In this present work, the phase pure hydrothermally synthesized ZnO particles, argon ion-implanted Kapton acted as a positive triboelectric layer while pure Kapton behaved as a negative triboelectric layer. The atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) were performed to investigate the surface roughness and surface potential of the triboelectric materials utilized in vertical contact mode TENG (I-TENG, abbreviated further). The elemental mapping and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results suggested successful Argon-ion implantation upon Kapton. Finally, the I-TENG device was subjected to various forces to systematically depict its electrical output responses and power up a wrist-watch and calculator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]