A flexible large-area triboelectric generator by low-cost roll-to-roll process for location-based monitoring

Abstract

This paper discusses a flexible large-area power floor developed based on the effect of triboelectrification and electrostatic induction. Facilitated by a simple roll-to-roll fabrication method, this device can be fabricated at a very low cost of $2/m2 with large-area micro patterns. As a normal adult walks across the floor, it can produce more than 480V peak voltage and over 75μA peak current. The obtained peak instantaneous power was about 4.6mW. It also showed favorable charging ability, as demonstrated by charging a 1μF capacitor to 1.6V in one step, corresponding to a surface charge density of 53.3μC/m2. The spacer distance was systematically investigated and optimized by finite element simulation method. Therefore, this device can produce a pressure sensitivity of 7.1V/KPa in the pressure range from 2.5KPa to 30 KPa experimentally, which is about 4.67 times higher than similar devices using the same mechanism. A novel triboelectric generator (TEG) array was proposed based on this large-area TEG (LTEG) for position monitoring. Integrated with the function of power generation and position monitoring, the proposed device is directly applicable to LED-based alarm signals. Generated electricity can be stored in capacitor for use by low-power electronics. Employing a simple signal-processing circuit, the generated signal can also be used to control certain house-hold appliances. In effect, the proposed LTEG has considerable potential for application in harvesting walking energy as well as monitoring human motions.