Fundamentals and Applications of Triboelectrification
A special issue of Lubricants (ISSN 2075-4442).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 June 2026 | Viewed by 1668
Special Issue Editors
Interests: triboelectric energy harvesting; modeling and optimization of tribo-systems; marine self-powered in situ detection technology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: offshore renewable energy; hydrodynamics; computational fluid dynamics; mooring analysis; offshore platform
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Triboelectrification refers to the charge transfer between materials during contact or relative motion, and has long been recognized as a fundamental interfacial phenomenon. However, with the emergence of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), significant progress has been made in both the scientific understanding and technological application of this phenomenon. These devices convert mechanical energy generated from contact, friction, or interfacial motion—such as vibrations, rotation, human activity, or environmental forces—into electricity through the coupling of triboelectrification and electrostatic induction.
The scientific significance of this field extends beyond energy harvesting. It introduces the concept of "motion-induced displacement current," expands classical electrodynamics, and deepens our understanding of contact electrification and mechano-electrical energy conversion at the micro- and nanoscales. Furthermore, TENGs provide a versatile platform for investigating interfacial charge transfer, frictional phenomena, and the coupling between mechanical deformation and electronic processes, thereby fostering emerging research directions such as tribotronics and contact-electro-catalysis.
Since triboelectric phenomena originate at contacting surfaces, tribological properties—including surface chemistry, roughness, running-in behavior, wear, and lubrication—exert a decisive influence on the performance, stability, and longevity of TENGs. Conversely, TENG technology offers innovative sensing capabilities and self-powered solutions for monitoring tribological systems, establishing a unique feedback loop between tribology and energy harvesting research.
This Special Issue aims to consolidate the latest advances in triboelectrification and TENGs, covering fundamental mechanisms, material design, device engineering, and diverse applications. By uniting perspectives from the fields of materials science, tribology, electronics, and energy research, this Issue presents a comprehensive overview of current developments in this rapidly evolving field and identifies key directions for future research.
Dr. Bo Zhao
Dr. Yong Ma
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Lubricants is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- triboelectrification
- contact-electrification
- charge transfer
- triboelectric nanogenerators
- tribotronics
- energy harvesting
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