	US 11,722,073 B2
	Flocked surface triboelectric charge generator and method of manufacturing
Yong K. Kim, North Dartmouth, MA (US); and Armand F. Lewis, Mattapoisett, MA (US)
Assigned to University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA (US)
Filed by University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA (US)
Filed on Oct. 18, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/656,668.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/747,709, filed on Oct. 19, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0127585 A1, Apr. 23, 2020
Int. Cl. H02N 1/04 (2006.01); D06N 7/00 (2006.01)

CPC H02N 1/04 (2013.01) [D06N 7/0097 (2013.01); D06N 2209/041 (2013.01)]

19 Claims

1. A flocked surface tribo-electric generator comprising:

first and second electrodes;

first and second flock fiber support layers conductively connected to respective ones of the first and second electrodes;

a first flock fiber material flocked onto the first flock fiber support layer;

a second different flock fiber material flocked onto the second flock fiber support layer; and

wherein the first flock fiber support layer and the second flock fiber support layer are configured to generate electrical energy by generating frictional contact between the first flock fiber material and the second different flock fiber material by contacting the first flock fiber material to the second different flock fiber material and separating the first flock fiber material from the second different flock fiber material; and

wherein at least one of the first flock fiber material and the second different flock fiber material comprises a plurality of fibers having a fiber denier in a range of about 0.5 to about 200 denier, a fiber length of about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm, and a fiber flock areal density of about 5 fibers/mm²to about 300 fibers/mm².