A contact charging member for a triboelectric generator, comprising a contact layer with a contact side and a back side, made of a dielectric material that has a triboelectric series rating indicating a propensity to exchange electrons due to a contacting event; and an electrode layer disposed along the back side of the contact layer, wherein the contact side of the contact layer is patterned so as to show a series of circular or hexagonal cavities with a flat bottom. The invention is also directed to triboelectric generator comprising the contact charging member and a process for manufacturing the member.