A novel temperature-dependent theoretical model for polymer contact–separation triboelectric nanogenerators

Temperature-dependent theoretical model has been proposed to bring in-depth understanding of materials for triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) and their working modes. This work presents a novel temperature-dependent analytical framework for polymer–polymer contact–separation mode TENG based on an enhanced distance-dependent electric field (EDDEF) model coupled to material-level dielectric and charging properties. The relative permittivity ϵ r ( T ) of polar polymers is obtained from the Kirkwood–Fröhlich relation, while non-polar fluoropolymers are described by Clausius–Mossotti relation; the surface charge density σ s ( T ) follows a kinetic model with activation energy. Using these inputs, we predict V o c ( T ) , I s c ( T ) and power density for sixteen polymer pairs formed from Nylon, Cellulose, PET, PVA and PTFE, FEP, PVC, Kapton, and validate the trends against COMSOL simulations. The model captures the weak low-temperature variation and strong high-temperature decay of output, and clearly ranks material combinations, highlighting fluoropolymers and high-melting-point positives as thermally robust choices. The framework also explains why optimized polymer composites with fillers can simultaneously boost output and extend operating temperature by increasing permittivity and activation energy.