Superlubricity-Based Electrostatic Microgenerators

Abstract

Although electrostatic microgenerators (ESMGs) have promised for nearly two decades extensive applications in wireless, self-powered microscale devices and sensors for security, personal health systems, communication, infrastructure and environmental monitoring, commercialized ESMGs are still scarce, mainly due to very low current densities and short product life for most applications. Here we demonstrate that a combination of structural superlubricity, a state of nearly zero friction and wear between two contacted solid surfaces, and nanotechnology can endow ESMGs with superlong life and high performances such as transferred charge, current, and power (at least three orders of magnitude higher than those of conventional ESMGs). Among a few significant advantages of superlubricity-based ESMGs, two are particularly noticeable. First, they can be driven by much lower external loads than conventional ESMGs; second, they can be massively fabricated by using micro-machining processes. The quantitative relationships, experimental proof of concept, and optimization results reported in this Letter can guide future design and facilitate the commercialization of ESMGs.