Ceramic nanoparticle based flexible hydrovoltaic devices for tactile and respiratory signal detection

Abstract

Devices that utilize water evaporation or moisture to generate electricity have received significant research attention in the field of energy conversion and harvesting. Herein, a device capable of generating electricity through the process of water evaporation has been created, utilizing medical nonwoven fabric as a porous substrate with simple dip-coating and spray-coating techniques. The device constructs a multitude of nanopores on the substrate by employing a blend of Al2O3 nanoparticles of varying dimensions. The electrical output of the device was stable at 0.55 V and 6 μA from a small water supply, as confirmed by the test. The device can easily recognize the click of a finger through the release of minuscule amounts of water during the contact. Furthermore, the device has the ability to recognize various breathing patterns, such as normal breathing, rapid breathing, and wheezing that may induced by diseases. This work developed a flexible device for power generation by water evaporation process and provides a referable idea for human related humidity sensing.