One-step fabrication of sandwiched film based triboelectric nanogenerator for large-area energy harvester and precise self-powered sensor

Abstract

Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) which can work as novel power provider and self-powered sensor has been in rapidly developed recently. However, fabricating large-area TENG through a one-step, continuous, and environmentally friendly method still remains a challenge but highly desired. Herein, large-area sandwiched film based triboelectric nanogenerator (LSF-TENG) was successfully fabricated via coextrusion blow film molding in a one-step way, whose skin (triboelectric layer) and core layer (electrode) are respectively pure polypropylene (PP) and carbon nanotubes compounded with PP (CNTs/PP) phase. Moreover, the as-fabricated LSF-TENG can realize effectively harvest mechanical energy and serves as a self-powered biomimetic whisker (SPBW) for automated guided vehicle (AGV). Furtheromre, thanks to Internet of Things (IoT) technology, the raindrop energy harvesting & precipitation monitoring (REH&PM) system has been successfully developed. This work proposes a facile, continuous and environmentally friendly method for developing low-cost, durable and large-area TENG, opening a new pathway to develop TENG based on the concept of polymer “structuring” processing.