 This paper examines the impact of the reference electrode on the performance of single electrode triboelectric nanogenerators, C-tanks. Theoretical simulations were used to explore the effects of different reference electrode configurations and working modes on the output voltage of C-tanks. Experiments were then carried out to verify the accuracy of the simulations. Finally, the authors identified several optimization strategies for C-tanks, based on the experimental results. These strategies can help guide the development of C-tanks and the design and fabrication of new electronic devices. This article was authored by Zitong Chen, Karin Dai, Jiasheng Chen, and others.