Phenomenon · phenomenon:triboelectric-effect

Triboelectric effect

Contact and separation of two dissimilar surfaces leaves them oppositely charged. Repeated contact–separation across a gap drives charge back and forth through an external circuit.

Surfaces and interfacesfirst reported 600 BCEalso: contact electrification, tribocharging

Atlas record: 8 claims reference this phenomenon — 5 established and 3 demonstrated.

Explorerelations · matrix context · routes · sources · cite

conditions: solid · dielectric required

8claims27enumerated routes2routes with complete-composition evidence1candidate routes not searched4cited sources

Relations

drives · 3

Surface energy difference—drives→Triboelectric effectestablished

two materials far apart in the triboelectric series brought into contact and separated repeatedly
dry conditions; humidity bleeds the charge

Mechanical vibration—drives→Triboelectric effectestablished

vibration or motion that repeatedly contacts and separates two dissimilar surfaces

Acoustic wave—drives→Triboelectric effectdemonstrated

the acoustic pressure oscillation is mechanically coupled through a movable piston, diaphragm, rolling element or liquid interface so that the triboelectric surfaces undergo repeated contact–separation or sliding motion

produces · 1

Triboelectric effect—produces→Separated surface chargeestablished

member of · 1

Triboelectric effect—member of→Triboelectricestablished

implemented by · 2

Triboelectric effect—implemented by→Triboelectric nanogeneratordemonstrated

Triboelectric effect—implemented by→Thermoacoustic triboelectric harvesterdemonstrated

observed in · 1

Triboelectric effect—observed in→PTFEestablished

Matrix context

D = disequilibrium row · C = coupling family column. A cell reads the state of the atlas for that pair.

D.15 × C.12 · Surface energy difference × Triboelectric · Established D.09 × C.12 · Mechanical vibration × Triboelectric · Established

family: Triboelectric (C.12)

Enumerated routes through this · 27 (showing 24)

Triboelectric nanogenerator3/3 est · demonstrated
Thermoacoustic triboelectric harvester4/5 est · demonstrated
Surface energy difference → Triboelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work3/3 est · candidate
Temperature gradient → Thermoacoustic effect → Acoustic wave → Triboelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work4/5 est · extends a recorded pathway
Bulk fluid flow → Flow-induced vibration → Mechanical vibration → Triboelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work5/5 est · extends a recorded pathway
Temperature gradient → Marangoni effect → Fluid flow → Flow-induced vibration → Mechanical vibration → Triboelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work7/7 est · unresolved handoff
Temperature gradient → Marangoni effect → Fluid flow → Flow-induced vibration → Mechanical vibration → Triboelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work6/7 est · unresolved handoff
Temperature gradient → Thermo-osmosis → Fluid flow → Flow-induced vibration → Mechanical vibration → Triboelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work7/7 est · unresolved handoff
Temperature gradient → Thermomagnetic convection → Fluid flow → Flow-induced vibration → Mechanical vibration → Triboelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work7/7 est · unresolved handoff
Chemical potential difference → Combustion → Temperature gradient → Thermoacoustic effect → Acoustic wave → Triboelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work6/7 est · extends a recorded pathway
Chemical potential difference → Combustion → Temperature gradient → Thermoacoustic effect → Acoustic wave → Triboelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work6/7 est · extends a recorded pathway
Electric potential difference → Peltier effect → Temperature gradient → Thermoacoustic effect → Acoustic wave → Triboelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work6/7 est · same energy form
Electric potential difference → Peltier effect → Temperature gradient → Thermoacoustic effect → Acoustic wave → Triboelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work6/7 est · same energy form
Electric potential difference → Ettingshausen effect → Temperature gradient → Thermoacoustic effect → Acoustic wave → Triboelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work6/7 est · same energy form
Electric potential difference → Ettingshausen effect → Temperature gradient → Thermoacoustic effect → Acoustic wave → Triboelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work6/7 est · same energy form
Incident radiation flux → Photothermal absorption → Temperature gradient → Thermoacoustic effect → Acoustic wave → Triboelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work6/7 est · extends a recorded pathway
Incident radiation flux → Photothermal absorption → Temperature gradient → Thermoacoustic effect → Acoustic wave → Triboelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work6/7 est · extends a recorded pathway
Radiative imbalance with the sky → Radiative sky cooling → Temperature gradient → Thermoacoustic effect → Acoustic wave → Triboelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work6/7 est · extends a recorded pathway
Radiative imbalance with the sky → Radiative sky cooling → Temperature gradient → Thermoacoustic effect → Acoustic wave → Triboelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work6/7 est · extends a recorded pathway
Surface energy difference → Marangoni effect → Fluid flow → Flow-induced vibration → Mechanical vibration → Triboelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work7/7 est · unresolved handoff
Surface energy difference → Marangoni effect → Fluid flow → Flow-induced vibration → Mechanical vibration → Triboelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work6/7 est · unresolved handoff
Gravitational potential difference → Gravitational descent of fluid → Bulk fluid flow → Flow-induced vibration → Mechanical vibration → Triboelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work7/7 est · extends a recorded pathway
Gravitational potential difference → Tidal flow → Bulk fluid flow → Flow-induced vibration → Mechanical vibration → Triboelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work7/7 est · extends a recorded pathway
Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fission → Temperature gradient → Thermoacoustic effect → Acoustic wave → Triboelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work6/7 est · extends a recorded pathway

Cited sources · 4

[1]
F.-R. Fan, Z.-Q. Tian, Z. L. Wang. Flexible triboelectric generator (2012)
Nano Energy 1, 328–334 · doi:10.1016/j.nanoen.2012.01.004 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
[2]
D. J. Lacks, T. Shinbrot. Long-standing and unresolved issues in triboelectric charging (2019)
Nature Reviews Chemistry 3, 465–476 · doi:10.1038/s41570-019-0115-1 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
[3]
C. Wu et al.. Triboelectric nanogenerator: a foundation of the energy for the new era (2019)
Advanced Energy Materials 9, 1802906 · doi:10.1002/aenm.201802906 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
[4]
Y. Li et al.. High-temperature energy harvesting via thermoacoustic-triboelectric hybridization: Design, modelling, and application demonstration (2026)
Nano Energy 155, 112082 · doi:10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.112082 · record

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