Triboelectric charging occurs when two materials are brought in contact and then separated, resulting in contacting materials acquiring opposite electric charges. This simple-looking process has a profound impact on a wide range of areas, which sometimes could be useful while at other times quite detrimental. The seminar discusses the application of triboelectric charging and related theories and experiments pertaining to the studies of physical and chemical changes caused by the introduction of triboelectric charging. A triboelectric device was fabricated to generate electricity and power simple devices like LEDs, and driving the electricity thus generated to synthesize nanoparticles and luminescent nanoclusters. In the process, a setup to precisely measure electrostatic charges of the materials in their native state was developed. Further, the effect of triboelectric charge induced changes in droplet drying patterns was studied, along with monitoring the effect of charging on pH changes. We also showed that water in contact with certain materials acquires a negative charge.
References
1. Liu, C. et al. Electrostatic Electrochemistry at Insulators. Nature Mater 2008, 7 (6), 505–509. 2. Fan, F. R. et al. Flexible Triboelectric Generator. Nano Energy 2012, 1 (2), 328–334. 3. Santos, L. P. et al. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C 2011, 115 (22), 11226–11232. 4. Nag, A.; Baksi et al. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 2019, 7 (21), 17554– 7558. 5. Burgo, T. A. L. et al. Journal of Electrostatics 2016, 80, 30–33.