Application Of Triboelectric Nanogenerator Research Articles

Soft-Soft Contact TENG Using Nonlinear Coupling Galloping Phenomenon for Harvesting Wind Energy

Wind energy can be efficiently converted into electricity by the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), which provides an effective solution for wind energy harvesting. Here, a novel soft-soft contact TENG based on nonlinear coupling galloping phenomenon (GS-TENG) was proposed. Soft-soft contact was achieved utilizing soft Ecoflex foam film and soft spring steel sheet. A microsphere structured surface was constructed on the Ecoflex film through foaming technology, which increases the surface charge density of the triboelectric materials effectively. Accordingly, the open-circuit voltage of triboelectric materials can reach up to 1700V. Moreover, the GS-TENG is capable of self-protection under high wind speeds by actively reducing its amplitude and features an ultra-wide working bandwidth (2.292m/s~>7.8m/s). When the wind speed reaches 4.74m/s, the GS-TENG can generate up to 4.67mW of output power. Notably, the GS-TENG’s flow-induced vibration dual mass system structure may pave the way for a new design paradigm in flow-induced vibration TENGs. GS-TENG can drive electronic clocks continuously and drive wireless temperature sensing systems successfully by wind energy harvesting. These results demonstrate that the GS-TENG we developed has high efficiency in wind energy harvesting, and this work greatly promotes the practical application of TENGs.

Mechanically Resilient, Self-Healing, and Environmentally Adaptable Eutectogel-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerators for All-Weather Energy Harvesting and Human-Machine Interaction.

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have garnered significant attention for mechanical energy harvesting, self-powered sensing, and human-machine interaction. However, their performance is often constrained by materials that lack sufficient mechanical robustness, self-healing capability, and adaptability to environmental extremes. Eutectogels, with their inherent ionic conductivity, thermal stability, and sustainability, offer an appealing alternative as flexible TENG electrodes, yet they typically suffer from weak damage endurance and insufficient self-healing capability. To overcome these challenges, here, we introduce an internal-external dual reinforcement strategy (IEDRS) that enhances internal bonding dynamics within the eutectogel matrix, composed of glycidyl methacrylate and deep eutectic solvent, and integrates plant-derived lignin as an external reinforcer. Notably, the resultant eutectogel, named GLCL, exhibits appealing collection merits including superior mechanical robustness (1.53 MPa tensile stress and 1.85 MJ/m3 toughness), ultrastrong adhesion (4.76 MPa), high self-healing efficiency (84.7%), and significant environmental adaptability (-40 to 100 °C). These improvements ensure that the assembled triboelectric nanogenerator (GLCL-TENG) produces stable and robust electrical outputs, maintained even under dynamic and postdamage conditions. Additionally, the GLCL-TENG exhibits significant extreme environmental tolerance and durability, maintaining high and consistent electrical outputs over a wide temperature range (-40 to 100 °C) and throughout 10,000 cycles of repeated contact-separation. Leveraging these robust performances, the GLCL-TENG excels in all-weather biomechanical energy harvesting and accurate individual motion detection and functions as a self-powered interface for wireless vehicular control. This work presents a viable material design strategy for developing tough and self-healing eutectogel electrodes, emphasizing the potential application of TENGs in all-weather smart vehicles.

Experimental investigation on the relationships between hydrodynamic responses and output properties of flower-like triboelectric nanogenerator in a large wave-flow flume

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have emerged as a promising technology for harvesting wave energy and converting it into electrical power. However, the practical application of TENGs in real-world ocean environments has been hindered by a lack of comprehensive data on their hydrodynamic responses and output properties under realistic wave-flow conditions. This gap in the literature has limited our understanding of how to optimize TENG designs for efficient wave energy conversion. In this study, a comprehensive series of experiments were conducted using a large wave-flow flume to investigate the performance of a flower-like TENG (FL-TENG) under various hydrodynamic conditions, including wave height, wave frequency, flow velocity, and structural geometry. The output voltage, motion responses, and cable tension of the FL-TENG were monitored using an electrometer, a machine vision-based displacement measurement system, and tensiometers, respectively. The results show that the relationship between the incident wave-flow area and the FL-TENG's output properties is more complex than a simple “bigger is better” trend. It is also found that the output voltage and hydrodynamic responses of the FL-TENG were positively correlated with the aspect ratio of the rectangular incident wave-flow shape. Importantly, the presence of water flow was observed to significantly inhibit the output properties and hydrodynamic responses of the FL-TENG. These findings provide valuable insights and new design considerations for advancing TENG applications in real-world ocean environments, ultimately contributing to the development of more efficient wave energy conversion technologies.

2D Ti3C2Tx-MXene and its superstructures as dual-function electrodes for triboelectric nanogenerators for self-powered electronics

Selecting distinct materials to design a tribopositive and tribonegative electrode pair for a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) device is a challenging task, as the interfacial electric field causes surface charges to diffuse into the air or within the material itself, leads to charge deterioration. To address these challenges, there is a strong demand for engineered materials and electrode designs that enable effective charge accumulation and trapping to regulate their performance optimally. Herein, we introduce a unique electrode design for a contact-separation (CS) mode triboelectric nanogenerator TENG featuring multilayered Ti3C2Tx MXene/Kapton as tribonegative electrodes. For the tribopositive electrode, we developed an innovative synthesis strategy to create MXene-seeded layered TiO2 superstructures/PVA-based tribopositive electrodes. After optimization of both triboelectric layers, the optimized TENG showed an open-circuit voltage (Voc) ∼ 120 V, short-circuit current (Isc) ∼ 25 μA, and power density of 5.66 W·m−2. The surface terminations groups in highly conductive black MXene nanosheets and the oxygen vacancies in TiO2-layered superstructures provide abundant charge accumulation and trapping sites due to organized multilayered structures at both ends. Moreover, the induced polarization in the tribopositive layer due to the hybrid film could further hinder the free electrons’ drift to the bottom electrode, preventing charge recombination. The optimized TENG was tested as a pressure sensor to monitor different sensitive physiological movements of the human body. Further application of the designed TENG has been revealed by humidity sensing characteristics, powering LEDs, stopwatches, pedometers, and swiftly charging micro-capacitors by utilizing direct output power. By employing a controlled synthesis strategy, our approach leverages the unique properties of MXenes to function as both tribo-positive and tribonegative electrodes within the same device. This dual-function capability simplifies material selection and enhances overall device performance, presenting a transformative solution for next-generation TENG applications.

Energy harvesting through the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) based on polyurethane/cellulose nanocrystal

This study investigates how physical and mechanical properties affect the performance of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). Polyurethane (PU) was prepared using two methods: (i) one-step PU (non-chain extended polyurethane) and (ii) two-step PU (chain extended polyurethane) via the prepolymer method; both types were filled with different concentrations of nanocrystalline cellulose. Mechanical properties significantly influence the deformation at the material interface that occurs during contact or friction. Key surface characteristics, including surface energy, geometry, and physicochemical properties, affect the effective contact area and potential distribution. One-step PU with 0.1 % CNC demonstrates a maximum capacitance of 29.20 pF, a voltage of 2.04 V, an electric current of 0.43 µA and power of 0.89 µW, representing a 74.5 % increase in power compared to the neat one-step PU, exhibits significant potential for TENG applications. Performance improvements are associated with lower concentrations of cellulose nanocrystals, enhanced hydrogen bonding, and beneficial surface energy. The observed enhancements in output are attributed to improved internal polarization from well-dispersed crystalline nanocellulose, increased crystallinity of the soft segment, and reduced charge transfer mechanisms due to amino groups in the chain extender. However, the impact of the molecular structure and conformation of polyurethanes on triboelectrification remains unclear, highlighting the need for theoretical models and experimental data. This research provides a practical approach for developing stretchable triboelectric materials with enhanced mechanical properties, emphasizing the importance of considering factors such as mechanical parameters, nanofiller content, and surface physicochemical properties to optimize TENG design.

Biocompatible triboelectric energy generators (BT-TENGs) for energy harvesting and healthcare applications.

Electronic waste (e-waste) has become a significant environmental and societal challenge, necessitating the development of sustainable alternatives. Biocompatible and biodegradable electronic devices offer a promising solution to mitigate e-waste and provide viable alternatives for various applications, including triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in biocompatible, biodegradable, and implantable TENGs, emphasizing their potential as energy scavengers for healthcare devices. The review delves into the fabrication processes of self-powered TENGs using natural biopolymers, highlighting their biodegradability and compatibility with biological tissues. It further explores the biomedical applications of ultrasound-based TENGs, including their roles in wound healing and energy generation. Notably, the review presents the novel application of TENGs for vagus nerve stimulation, demonstrating their potential in neurotherapeutic interventions. Key findings include the identification of optimal biopolymer materials for TENG fabrication, the effectiveness of TENGs in energy harvesting from physiological movements, and the potential of these devices in regenerative medicine. Finally, the review discusses the challenges in scaling up the production of implantable TENGs from biomaterials, addressing issues such as mechanical stability, long-term biocompatibility, and integration with existing medical devices, outlining future research opportunities to enhance their performance and broaden their applications in the biomedical field.

Coaxial tribonegative yarn TENG with aromatic polyimide as charge entrapment layer for real-time edge ball assessment in cricket sports

Energy harvesting yarns working on triboelectric effect by converting mechanical energy into electricity for running wearable electronics as well as operating as self-powered sensors, are superb choices for wearable electronics of current and future generations. However, current yarn-based triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) designed through electrospinning process are limited in achieving higher outputs, comfort, mechanical strength, washability, and industrial scalability. In this study, we introduce a flexible and durable tribonegative yarn TENG (TNY) with an electrospun polyimide (PI) intermediate charge trapping layer between the electrode and electrospun superhydrophobic polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF)/Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). In this coaxial arrangement, the PI charge entrapment layer enabled the TNY to exhibit an output voltage of 14 V in a 2.5 cm length, compared to only 8 V for TNY without PI layer. The TNY can be successfully woven and knitted into electronic textiles (E-Textiles), with their outputs compared based on various knitted and woven patterns. The E-Textile maintained considerable outputs after washing and withstood 5000 Martindale abrasion cycles. The superhydrophobic behavior also enabled TNY to harvest water energy from a running tap. We demonstrated the potential of these E-Textiles for edge ball sensing in cricket sports in real-time by leveraging the benefits of triboelectrification, thereby avoiding the need for complex camera setups and sound systems for judging ball movements at ± 140 km/hr in real sports. We also employed E-Textiles for smart switch functions, which can be beneficial in smart systems. This study demonstrates the improved performance of yarn-based TENGs and further extends the applications of TENGs in sports analysis. It provides a facile and high-efficiency approach for designing triboelectric sensors, offering a cost-effective alternative to complex and expensive sports equipment.

Mechanical and electric friction properties of Poly(methyl methacrylate) – Nitrocellulose blend polymer for triboelectric nanogenerators

In this study, nitrocellulose - polymethyl methacrylate (NC/PMMA) blend film as a positive triboelectric material for triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) with controlled flexibility was successfully synthesized by varying the PMMA content in the polymer blend. The combination of NC and PMMA reduced the limitations of the individual component materials with improved mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elastic modulus and elongation at breaking point. The TENG fabricated from NC/PMMA as a positive friction layer paired with fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as a negative friction layer demonstrates a high peak to peak voltage output of 234 V at low frequency and with an actuation force of 10~N. The open circuit triboelectric voltage value maintains 91% durability after 26200 click-release cycles. This work provides a potential approach to simultaneously improve the electrical and mechanical properties of triboelectric materials, promoting the possibility of practical applications of TENG.

Applications of Triboelectric Nanogenerators in Medical Recovery: A Review

Applications of Triboelectric Nanogenerators in Medical Recovery: A Review

Biopolymer and Biomimetic Techniques for Triboelectric Nanogenerators (TENGs).

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) play a crucial role in attaining sustainable energy for various wearable devices. Polymer materials are essential components of TENGs. Biopolymers are suitable materials for TENGs because of their degradability, natural sourcing, and cost-effectiveness. Herein, the latest progress in commonly used biopolymers and well-designed biomimetic techniques for TENG is summarized. The applications of natural rubber, polysaccharides, protein-based biopolymers, and other common synthetic biopolymers in TENG technology are summarized in detail. Each biopolymer is discussed based on its electrification capability, polarity variations, and specific functionalities as active and functional layers of TENGs. Important biomimetic strategies and related applications of specific biopolymers are also summarized to guide the structural and functional design of TENG. In the future, the study of triboelectric biopolymers may focus on exploring alternative candidates, enhancing charge density, and expanding functionality. Various possible applications of biopolymer-based TENGs are proposed in this review. By applying biopolymers and related biomimetic methods to TENG devices, the applications of TENG in the fields of healthcare, environmental monitoring, and wearable/implantable electronics can be further promoted.

Triboelectric Nanogenerators with Machine Learning for Internet of Things

AbstractThe development of the Internet of Things (IoT) indicates that humankind has entered a new intelligent era of the “Internet of Everything”. Thanks to the characteristics of low‐cost, diverse structure, and high energy conversion efficiency, the self‐powered sensing systems, which are based on the Triboelectric Nanogenerator (TENG), demonstrate great potential in the field of IoT. In order to solve the challenges of TENG in sensing signal processing, such as signal noise and nonlinear relations, Machine Learning (ML), which is an efficient and mature data processing tool, is widely applied for efficiently processing the large and complex output signal data generated by TENG intelligent sensing system. This review summarizes and analyzes the adaptation of different algorithms in TENG and their advantages and disadvantages at the beginning, which provides a reference for the selection of algorithms for TENG. More importantly, the application of TENG is introduced in multiple scenarios, including health monitoring, fault detection, and human‐computer interaction. Finally, the limitations and development trend of the integration of TENG and ML are proposed by classification to promote the future development of the intelligent IoT era.

Ultrasound‐Driven Highly Stable Implantable Triboelectric Nanogenerator with Human‐Tissue Acoustic Impedance‐Matched Polyether Ether Ketone

AbstractImplantable electrical neurostimulators offer a promising avenue for treating neurological disorders. However, their dependency on a finite battery life limits their long‐term utility. Emerging transcutaneous ultrasound‐driven triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) techniques provide solutions for converting external ultrasound waves into internal electricity. This study proposes an implantable ultrasound‐driven TENG (IU‐TENG) using polyether ether ketone (PEEK) for its exceptional stability inside a human body and acoustic impedance compatibility with human tissues. This IU‐TENG remarkably surpasses traditional titanium‐based encapsulation, resulting in a 99.94% efficiency in ultrasound transmission. In addition, PEEK contains numerous electron‐donating functional groups, making it suitable for TENG applications, particularly as a positive triboelectric layer. The device exhibits robust voltage outputs, reaching up to 11.50 and 8.75 V in water and in vivo, respectively, under body‐safe ultrasound intensities. Moreover, its ability to sustain a stable electrical output for over 300 min emphasizes the durability and mechanical resilience of PEEK. In vivo mouse models and ex vivo porcine tissue trials demonstrate the effectiveness of the IU‐TENG in nerve stimulation, showing its potential in medical treatments, enhancing the functionality and longevity of implantable medical devices.

Multi-Attribute Triboelectric Materials and Innovative Applications Via TENGs.

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) as an avant-garde technology that transforms mechanical energy into electrical energy, offering a new direction for green energy and sustainable development. By means of high-efficiency TENGs, conventional materials as new triboelectric materials have exhibited multi-attribute characteristics, achieving innovative applications in the field of micro-nano energy harvesting and self-powered sensing. The progress of TENGs technology with the triboelectric materials is complementary and mutually promoting. On the one hand, one of the cruxes of TENGs lies in the triboelectric materials, which have a decisive impact on their performance. On the other hand, as the research and application of TENGs continue to deepen, higher demands are placed on triboelectric materials, which in turn promotes the advancement of the entire material system as well as the fields of materials science and physics. This work aims to delve into the characteristics, types, preferred choices, and modification treatments of triboelectric materials on the performances of TENGs, hoping to provide guidance and insights for future research and applications.

Application of triboelectric nanogenerator in self-powered motion detection devices: A review

Among today’s bustling lifestyles, the demand for autonomous, durable, and low-maintenance healthcare systems has surged, surpassing that of earlier periods. Nanostructured and environmentally friendly materials employed in nanogenerator technology offer a novel avenue for biomedical applications by harnessing biomechanical energy. Triboelectric Nanogenerators (TENGs) have emerged as comprehensive solutions, furnishing self-sustaining, eco-conscious, and compact devices. Recognizing the immense potential of TENGs, this paper presents a comprehensive overview of its motion detection. Our analysis delves into the versatility of TENG-based motion detection systems, providing wearable, user-friendly solutions powered by human motion. Recent advancements in triboelectric devices are cataloged, elucidating their structural intricacies, capabilities, performance metrics, and future prospects. In addition, the article also outlines the applications of different TENGs in motion monitoring, including contact, non-contact, and single-electrode mode. The evolution of intelligent wearable technologies has extended our capacities in communication, healthcare, and various other domains beyond our biological limits. Apart from the Internet of Things, the concept of Internet of bodies or beings is poised for rapid advancement, promising further transformation of our lifestyles. Conclusively, we present insights into forthcoming opportunities and plausible strategies to address anticipated hurdles.

Durable and High-Performance Triboelectric Nanogenerator Based on an Inorganic Triboelectric Pair of Diamond-Like-Carbon and Glass.

The long-term durability of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) remains a main challenge for practical applications because of inevitable material abrasion and wear, especially for sliding TENGs. Herein, an inorganic triboelectric pair composed of diamond-like carbon (DLC) and glass with excellent durability and triboelectric output for sliding-mode TENGs is proposed. This triboelectric pair possesses a low coefficient of friction and little abrasion and accordingly excellent durability (>500 000cycles). Moreover, compared with the traditional copper-polytetrafluoroethylene (Cu-PTFE)TENG with maximum transferred charges of 50nC, those of the DLC-glass TENG reaches 141nC. Due to the low-friction and high hardness of the triboelectric pair, the output quickly recovers after simply cleaning wear debris. The DLC-glass TENG demonstrates an output power density of 530mWm-2 and a fourfold faster capacitor charging speed than the Cu-PTFE TENG. Compared to the reported durable TENGs via structure optimization and interface lubrication, the DLC-glass TENG shows higher outputs and simpler structure. This DLC-glass pair structure is also introduced into a spherical TENG for blue energy harvesting with excellent durability. The inorganic triboelectric pair with excellent mechanical durability and electrical performance proposed in this work shows huge prospects for practical applications of TENGs.

Keplerate-Type Polyoxometalates-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Higher Performance via the Morphology Modulation of Blackberry Structure.

The tribe-material is the key factor affecting the performance of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). Inorganic materials have higher heat resistance and stability than widely used organic materials. However, the weaker tribe-property limits the application of TENGs. Modulating surface roughness by changing particle shape and size is a simple way to increase performance for TENGs. Polyoxometalates (POMs) have unrivalled structural diversity and can self-assemble to form different nanostructures. In this study, we propose [{(NH4)42[Mo72 VIMo60 VO372(CH3COO)30 (H2O)72] ⋅ ca.300H2O ⋅ ca.CH3COONH4)}-Mo132] and [{Na8K14(VO)2[{(MoVI) (Mo5 VIO21)(H2O)3]}10{(MoVI)Mo5 VIO21(H2O)3 (SO4)}2{VIVO(H2O)20} {VIVO}10({KSO4}5)2] ⋅ 150H2O)}-Mo72V30] with blackberry structure which are cured and prepared into film by spin-coating technique, are used as positive tribe-materials for the first time in the field of TENGs. Keplerate-type POMs can form blackberry structures with higher dispersibility and flexibility, which can be used to control surface roughness by regulating the size of particles. The discovery proves that the particle size influences the surface roughness, which adjusts the output of TENGs. According to our findings, Mo132-h-TENG generates an output voltage of 29.3 V, an output charge of 8 Nc, which is 2-3 folds higher than Mo132-TENG, and a maximum power density of 6.25 mW ⋅ m-2 at 300 MΩ. Our research provides that altering the dimensional size can be an available way to raise the output of TENGs.

Diminish charge loss by mica incorporation into nylon nanofibers for performance enhancement of triboelectric nanogenerators operating in harsh ambient

The triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is a fascinating energy-harvesting device that utilizes the triboelectric effect caused by contact electrification and electrostatic induction. Nylon 66 is used widely in TENG applications because it is a representative tribo-positive polymer with excellent biocompatibility. On the other hand, the generated charges are vulnerable to discharge due to moisture in the air, which impedes the TENG performance in harsh environments. Moreover, the dielectric loss, which generates heat by consuming the considerable electric charge in triboelectric materials, significantly degrades the TENG performances. This study fabricated the composite nanofiber (NF) structure of nylon 66 and mica, which has excellent electrical insulation, low dielectric loss, high thermal conductivity, and enhanced tribo-positive properties, to circumvent these problems. Embedding the mica into the nylon NFs enhanced the TENG performance and prevented performance degradation even in harsh environments at a relative humidity of 70%. Furthermore, after 100,000 cycles of friction, the nylon/mica composite NFs showed smaller temperature increments than the pristine nylon NF because of the low dielectric loss and efficient heat dissipation of the mica. The nylon/mica composite NFs were applied to a sustainable and wearable power generator operating in a humid and hot environment by attaching the device to the forearm and soles of the feet. The generators were efficient enough to turn on 80 light-emitting diodes.

Boosting the triboelectric performances of biowaste chitosan keratin triboelectric nanogenerator using carbon composite film as charge storage and charge recombination blocking intermediate layer

Environmental conservation efforts are promoting energy-generation technologies that avoid the use of highly polluting fuels and promote the reuse of waste materials. Advances in triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have led to the progress in harvesting energy from ambient mechanical sources and powering small devices and sensors while being compact, flexible, biocompatible, and eco-friendly. Nevertheless, the practical applications of TENG have limitations. Therefore, the development of TENG with excellent triboelectric performance, eco-friendliness, and low cost is crucial. Consequently, an environmentally friendly, inexpensive TENG device with outstanding triboelectric performance was designed using keratin-enhanced chitosan as a tribo-positive material, a carbon film as an intermediate layer, and polytetrafluoroethylene as a triboelectric negative material. The device was purposely designed to simultaneously play a role in waste treatment and efficient green energy harvesting. Therefore, keratin was extracted from recycled fur, and a carbon film was selected to enhance the triboelectric performance because of its excellent electrical conductivity and dielectric constant. The triboelectric properties of a chitosan keratin intermediate layer (CKI)-TENG were systematically investigated. Practical applications of the CKI-TENG in charging electronic devices and waste-noise harvesting were also studied. The developed CKI TENG exhibited outstanding triboelectric performance compared to a TENG device without an intermediate layer. Particularly, the charge transfer, output voltage, and power density was improved by 19%, 46%, and 60%, respectively, compared to the output of the chitosan-keratin (CK) TENG device. It also exhibited outstanding cyclic and charging-discharging stabilities. In addition, the power density of the developed CKI TENG was higher than that of previously reported TENG devices. Thus, it can play a significant role in green and clean energy generation and the utilization of the harvested energy in practical applications, such as biomedical sensors, charging electronic devices, smart textiles, and sensors.

One-click fabrication of triboelectric nanogenerators through multiple fused filaments fabrication

The efficiency and cost of manufacturing large-scale triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) plays an important role in determining the application of TENG in various fields. However, the commonly employed direct ink writing (DIW) technique encounters challenges in the manufacturing process, such as difficulties in achieving automatic material switching, intricate procedures, and high costs. In this paper, we have developed a conductive polymer filament comprising thermoplastic polyurethane/polylactic acid/carbon nanotubes/graphene (TPCG) and proposed a one-click preparation approach for building TENG utilizing Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) technology. This approach can automatically switch multiple printing materials and thus efficiently prepare TENG without any human intervention. The influence of printing parameters on the output performance of TENG was investigated. As a demonstration, we utilized the one-click method to construct a self-powered cathodic protection system, effectively safeguarding Q235 carbon steel from corrosion. This work presents an advanced TENG fabrication solution based on the developed TPCG conductive polymer filament, enhancing production efficiency and promoting the development of standardized and scalable manufacturing processes.

Self-repairing thermoplastic polyurethane-based triboelectric nanogenerator with molybdenum disulfide charge-trapping for advanced wearable devices

In the realm of wearable electronics, the development of materials that can endure and adapt to the human experience while harvesting energy is paramount. Herein, we introduce a novel self-healable thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) for a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) that harmonizes self-healing efficacy with mechanical durability. Utilizing a unique electrospinning technique, we engineered TPU fibers that not only exhibit remarkable elasticity—withstanding over 600% strain—but also possess the capability to self-repair at just 80 ºC. For the negative triboelectric layers, beside choosing fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) as the main electron-withdrawing surface, the introduction of molybdenmum disulfide (MoS2) as a charge-trapping layer exploits its two-dimensional structure to enhance both the stretchability and electrical output of the TENG. Our study demonstrates the TENG’s proficiency in energy generation, producing up to 1000 V from vigorous motion and maintaining a consistent output after mechanical stress and chemical exposure. Moreover, the device showcases excellent motion-sensing capabilities and can power up to 200 (light-emitting diodes) LEDs, underscoring its efficiency and adaptability. This robust TENG sets a precedent for self-healing materials in sustainable energy devices and marks a substantial advance towards their integration into everyday wearables. The culmination of these features highlights the potential mass application of TENGs, paving the way for their ubiquitous adoption in the near future.