Wearable and self-powered sensors made by triboelectric nanogenerators assembled from antibacterial bromobutyl rubber

Abstract

Energy, information, and materials are the three main factors required for the survival and development of modern humankind, with energy being the cornerstone of all development. In recent years, self-powered devices have received widespread attention. As a new generation device, Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) assembled from flexible materials possess the characteristics of flexible design, low-cost, stable output performance, etc., and can be widely used in wearable and self-powered medical detection sensors of human body. In this paper, flexible bromobutyl rubber (BIIR) and PET were used as friction materials, and assembled into arched vertical contact-separation triboelectric nanogenerators following various film formation and surface roughening treatments. The treatment and assembly methods of the friction materials were studied in order to obtain the best power generating effects. In addition, due to the biocompatibility and intrinsic antibacterial property of BIIR films, the fabricated triboelectric nanogenerator was also applied to wearable self-powered sensor equipment, proving its potential in the fields of identification and gait analysis. The manuscript described the triboelectric nanogenerators assembled by bromobutyl rubber (BIIR) and PET, which has intrinsic antibacterial performance and high force detection sensitivity. It can be used in wearable and self-powered sensors. • Ÿ Intrinsic antibacterial BIIR films were prepared by electrospinning and assembled into wearable and self - powered TENG. • Ÿ The BIIR-based TENGs is capable of energy-harvesting and signal recognition for identification and gait analysis. • The BIIR-based TENGs are easy to prepare and have the potential for large-scale industrial production.