Ultra-stretchable triboelectric nanogenerator as high-sensitive and self-powered electronic skins for energy harvesting and tactile sensing

Publication date: April 2020Source: Nano Energy, Volume 70Author(s): Kangkang Zhou, Yi Zhao, Xiupeng Sun, Zuqing Yuan, Guoqiang Zheng, Kun Dai, Liwei Mi, Caofeng Pan, Chuntai Liu, Changyu ShenAbstractRapid development of wearable electronic devices stimulates various requirements for power supply devices, such as sustainability, maintenance-free and stretchability. Herein, we fabricate a flexible and self-powered electronic skin (e-skin) based on an ultra-stretchable triboelectric nanogenerator (STENG) by multilayered thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)/silver nanowires (AgNWs)/reduced graphene oxide (rGO). Due to the ultra-stretchable property of the TPU fibrous mats and the synergistic effect of the multilayered AgNWs/rGO microstructure, our e-skin demonstrates excellent stability and high stretchability (200% strain). The e-skin (2 × 2 cm2) delivers a high open-circuit voltage (202.4 V) and a large instantaneous power density (6 mW/m2), which can be used as an efficient energy supply device. Whereas, our e-skin possesses a high sensitivity (78.4 kPa−1) and a fast response time (1.4 ms) towards pressure, demonstrating its excellent tactile sensing capability. On the basis of the excellent performances, the e-skin can sense strength and trajectory of motion of the mechanical stimulus, clear and accurate results have been obtained. The results provide a new and practical strategy for fabricating STENG based high performance and self-powered e-skin for soft robots, huma...
Source: Nano Energy - Category: Nanotechnology Source Type: research