Department of Chemistry - PhD Student Seminar - Triboelectric Nanogenerator and Triboelectric Nanogenerator Probe between Liquid and Solid Surfaces

Student: Mr. Chaoyue ZHAO

Department: Department of Chemistry, HKUST

Supervisor: Prof. He YAN

Abstract

This presentation explores the fundamentals of Triboelectric Nanogenerators (TENGs) and their specialized application as TENG probes for liquid-solid interfaces. TENGs convert scattered environmental mechanical energy into electricity via contact electrification and electrostatic induction, proving highly effective for renewable energy harvesting and self-powered sensing. While solid-solid contact electrification is primarily driven by electron transfer , liquid-solid interfaces involve a more complex interplay of removable electrons and sticky ions.

Leveraging these mechanisms, TENG probes are designed to convert liquid-solid interfacial charge transfer into measurable electrical signals for in-situ analysis. These devices have evolved from simple single-electrode structures to advanced, high-density electrode arrays capable of generating 2D interface charge transfer mappings (ICTM). As a result, TENG probes can be utilized for a diverse range of applications, including real-time chemical analysis, tracking polymer crosslinking, fluid and bubble monitoring, AI-assisted taste sensing, and detecting food contaminants like heavy metals. Despite ongoing challenges regarding mechanistic clarity, signal stability, and selectivity , future developments aim to integrate TENG probes with machine learning and portable microfluidics, ultimately transforming invisible interfacial interactions into analyzable, highly sensitive data.