Chapter 7 - A novel triboelectric nanogenerator based on electrospun nanofibers and its application as a self-powered nanosensor

Abstract

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) and their applications as active sensors are receiving considerable attention in the last 5 years because of their advantages that include a self-powered sensing mechanism, easy fabrication, and low cost. This chapter introduces the fabrication of a novel TENG and investigates its potential application for real-time pressure monitoring. Therefore an experimental procedure is designed to investigate its application as a pressure triboelectric nanosensor. In this procedure the developed triboelectric sensor is subjected to controlled periodic pressures of different magnitudes using the technique of dynamic mechanical analysis. The experimental results demonstrate that the electrical responses of the sensor are strongly influenced by the pressures applied, and therefore significant increments of the voltage and current outputs are incurred by the pressure increment. Moreover, the electric responses of the sensor show a very high sensitivity to the applied pressure force in a range between 2 and 15N. The main contributions of this chapter are the development of a polyvinylidene fluoride–based nanogenerator and prove that it can be successfully applied as an active sensor for real-time pressure detection and measurement. Such a sensor has potential multiple applications for different practical purposes, such as self-powered pressure sensing of industrial machineries and testing equipment.