2024/09/17 by Karl Olson, Laurence D. Marks · 1 voice
Engineering · Materials Science · #Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials #Conducting polymers and applications #Electrical Contact Performance and Analysis
paper · doi:10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c03656
openalex publication_date 2024/09/17 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2025/12/22
An enduring question in science has been why sliding plays a major role in the triboelectric generation of static electricity-the "tribo" in triboelectricity. We provide here a general explanation which is rooted in established science. When sliding is taking place, there is symmetry breaking due to elastic shear, so the front of the sliding body experiences different elastic strains from the back. Consequently the polarization and associated charges at the front and back are not the same, and the difference between the two leads to current flow similar to the difference in air pressure above and below a plane's wing leading to lift. Specific calculations are provided which show good agreement with prior experimental measurements of size and shape dependencies, and reasonable quantitative agreement with experimental current measurements.