Wearable self-sustaining triboelectric sensor for basketball posture detection and training feedback

Fully sustainable and high-performance fish gelatin-based triboelectric nanogenerator for wearable movement sensing and human-machine interaction

This study presents the fabrication of an ultralight, porous, and high-performance triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) utilizing silk fibroin (SF) aerogels and PDMS sponges as the friction layer. The transition from two-dimensional film friction layers to three-dimensional porous aerogels significantly increased the specific surface area, offering an effective strategy for designing high-performance SF aerogel-based TENGs. The TENG incorporating the porous SF aerogel exhibited optimal output performance at a 3% SF concentration, achieving a maximum open circuit voltage of 365 V, a maximum short-circuit current of 11.8 μA, and a maximum power density of 7.52 W/m2. In comparison to SF-film-based TENGs, the SF-aerogel based TENG demonstrated a remarkable 6.5-fold increase in voltage and a 4.5-fold increase in current. Furthermore, the power density of our SF-based TENG surpassed the previously reported optimal values for SF-based TENGs by 2.4 times. Leveraging the excellent mechanical stability and biocompatibility of TENGs, we developed an SF-based TENG self-powered sensor for the real-time monitoring of subtle biological movements. The SF-based TENG exhibits promising potential as a wearable bioelectronic device for health monitoring.

Zirconium metal-organic framework and hybridized Co-NPC@MXene nanocomposite-coated fabric for stretchable, humidity-resistant triboelectric nanogenerators and self-powered tactile sensors

This work reveals the correlation between the performance of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) and the characteristics of deformable solid-state ionic conductors (referred to as ionogels). For this purpose, we modify ionogel characteristics by incorporating additional plasticizers (propylene carbonate) and solid salts (lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide) into the ionogels. We conclude that the high capacitance of the ionogel is crucial for achieving a high-performance TENG platform. The optimized ionogel-based TENG (i-TENG) exhibits a power density of ∼372.4 mW·m-2 (based on 95 V and 36 mA·m-2 outputs) with outstanding long-term stability over 2 weeks. Additionally, successful demonstrations of wearable nanogenerators are performed by leveraging the high stretchability (up to ∼1000%) and optical transparency (∼90%) of the ionogels. Overall, the results provide insight into the design of deformable ionic conductors for high-performance, reliable, and wearable TENGs.

Enhancing the output of cellulose-based triboelectric nanogenerators via dual interfacial polarization effects.

Stretchable freezing-tolerant triboelectric nanogenerator and strain sensor based on transparent, long-term stable, and highly conductive gelatin-based organohydrogel

Biodegradable, stretchable, and high-performance triboelectric nanogenerators through interfacial polarization in bilayer structure

Hybrid Energy-Harvesting Systems Based on Triboelectric Nanogenerators

The triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is an emerging technology that offers excellent potential for the conversion of mechanical energy from rain into electricity for hybrid energy applications. However, a high-performance TENG is yet to be achieved because a quantitative analysis method for the energy conversion process is still lacking. Herein, a quantitative analysis method, termed the "kinetic energy calculation and current integration" (KECCI) method, which significantly improves the understanding of the mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion process, is presented. Based on the KECCI method, a high-performance TENG is developed by systematically optimizing a biomimetic surface structure and instant switch design, with 1.25mA short-circuit current (Isc ), 150V open-circuit voltage (Voc ), and a high energy-conversion efficiency of 24.89%. Furthermore, a multilayered TENG device is proposed for continuously harvesting the kinetic energy of raindrops for further improvement in the energy-conversion efficiency. Finally, the multilayered TENGs are integrated with organic photovoltaics, achieving all-weather energy harvesting. This work presents a validated theoretical basis that will guide further development of TENGs toward higher performances, which will promote the commercialization of hybrid TENG systems for all-weather applications.

Enhanced performance triboelectric nanogenerators based on solid polymer electrolytes with different concentrations of cations

A simple and low-cost triboelectric nanogenerator based on two dimensional ZnO nanosheets and its application in portable electronics

High-performance triboelectric nanogenerators with artificially well-tailored interlocked interfaces

Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has been proved as a powerful approach to harvest ambient mechanical energy for many technological applications. However, the service lifetime, stability and robustness of TENG are a challenge owing to the wearing and surface degradation. In this manuscript, liquid lubrication is introduced for the first time to increase the anti-wear property of TENG. The influence of the lubricant layer between the surfaces on TENG outputs is studied. It is surprising to find that proper liquid lubrication can not only provide a super wear-resistive TENG, but also can increase the electric outputs. In comparison to a slide-mode TENG with solid-solid contact, the service life of TENG can be greatly improved through liquid lubrication and there is no detected wear even after 36,000 cycles of operation. Specially, the open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current of squalane-lubricated TENG can be both more than 3 times of the unlubricated TENG. For unlubricated TENG, a transfer polymer film adheres to the harder material surface and reduces the contact effectiveness. Liquid lubrication is able to avoid the formation of the transfer film, increase the effective solid-solid contact area and squeeze the air at the interface, thus giving rise to higher electric outputs. Our study opens a new approach for extending the lifetime and stability of TENGs.

Large amplification of triboelectric property by allicin to develop high performance cellulosic triboelectric nanogenerator

The integration of metal–semiconductor nanostructures is of significant interest to the advanced technology development. However, the synthesis methods for metal–semiconductor nanostructures are complicated and require multi-stage processing, which includes the separate synthesis of metallic and semiconductor nanostructures, controlling pH, and dedicated equipments. Herein, we report a one-step in situ synthesis and simultaneous embedding of Ru nanostructures on g-C3N4 nanosheets using the synchrotron x-ray irradiation method. The results indicate that Ru nanostructures were uniformly embedded within the g-C3N4 nanosheets, leading to the formation of Ru—O, RuO2, and Ru—O—Ru chemical bonds. Moreover, three distinct types of Ru nanostructures could be achieved by adjusting the x-ray dose. High-performance triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) were fabricated using these three types of Ru-embedded g-C3N4 nanosheets within a PDMS matrix. The output performance of these TENG devices was compared with that of PDMS and g-C3N4/PDMS TENGs. The improved dielectric constant contributes to the high performance of the TENG. The synthesized Ru/g-C3N4 nanostructures are notably significant due to increased contact surface area, charge distribution density, and the formation of a metal–semiconductor heterostructure system. These characteristics lead to high charge transfer rates, improved charge transport, and a higher density of charge trapping centers within the insulating matrix. Thus, we achieved a high TENG peak power density of 4.86 W/m2 during the contact separation process. The practical applicability of the TENG is also demonstrated. Furthermore, a 47 μF capacitor could be charged to 7.8 V in ∼400 s and can be used to continuously drive low power electronic gadgets.