Molecular Factors Governing Triboelectric Energy Conversion: From Surface Chemistry to Dynamic Charge Transport

Abstract

Triboelectric energy conversion has emerged as a promising platform for self-powered electronics, yet its underlying contact electrification mechanisms remain actively debated. In this Perspective, we present a unified framework connecting interfacial chemistry, dielectric physics, transport kinetics, and surface morphology. Taking the contact potential difference (CPD) as a thermodynamic baseline, we examine how chemical functionalization, stoichiometric Fermi-level tuning, and bulk dielectric polarization modulate the driving force for charge transfer. We further highlight how contact–separation or sliding motion promotes carrier transport by overcoming potential barriers through dynamic mechanisms such as energy dissipation, phonon excitation, thermoelectric effect, and flexoelectric coupling. Finally, we discuss how multiscale morphological engineering amplifies effective contact area and strain gradients to reinforce charge exchange. By unifying these fundamental modalities, this Perspective provides rational design principles for next-generation triboelectric materials and high-performance nanogenerators.