Static electricity is all around us, from the tiny shocks you get from taking off your shirt on a dry day [about 20kV] to electrical storms that generate lightning bolts [around 1GV]. Triboelectric devices can harness that energy, even from wave power.
The phenomenon has been studied since about 600BC, when it was discovered that different materials reacted in different ways to friction. On a dry day, just walking can generate enoughstatic electricity to turn long hair to frizz and and make your pants crawl up your leg. If there was only a way to harness that energy.
Static electricity to power nanogenerators for future sensor applications in artificial skin & touch screens
