Quantifying the triboelectric series

TLDR

Triboelectrification is a ubiquitous phenomenon, yet its quantification remains unstandardized and existing triboelectric series are only qualitatively ranked. The study introduces a universal standard method to quantify the triboelectric series for a wide range of polymers, establishing quantitative triboelectrification as a fundamental material property. The method uses liquid‑metal measurements under controlled conditions to standardize surface triboelectrification testing and derives a normalized charge density that reveals polymers’ intrinsic electron‑gain or loss tendencies. The resulting quantitative triboelectric series can serve as a textbook standard for applying triboelectrification in energy harvesting and self‑powered sensing.

Abstract

Abstract Triboelectrification is a well-known phenomenon that commonly occurs in nature and in our lives at any time and any place. Although each and every material exhibits triboelectrification, its quantification has not been standardized. A triboelectric series has been qualitatively ranked with regards to triboelectric polarization. Here, we introduce a universal standard method to quantify the triboelectric series for a wide range of polymers, establishing quantitative triboelectrification as a fundamental materials property. By measuring the tested materials with a liquid metal in an environment under well-defined conditions, the proposed method standardizes the experimental set up for uniformly quantifying the surface triboelectrification of general materials. The normalized triboelectric charge density is derived to reveal the intrinsic character of polymers for gaining or losing electrons. This quantitative triboelectric series may serve as a textbook standard for implementing the application of triboelectrification for energy harvesting and self-powered sensing.