An Ultrathin Flexible Single‐Electrode Triboelectric‐Nanogenerator for Mechanical Energy Harvesting and Instantaneous Force Sensing. Issue 1 (8th September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Shu Wen; Cao, Xia; Wang, Ning; Ma, Long; Zhu, Hui Rui; Willander, Magnus; Jie, Yang; Wang, Zhong Lin
• Is Part Of: Advanced energy materials. Volume 7:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2016-09-08
• Subjects: energy harvesting -- force sensing -- self‐powering -- triboelectric nanogenerators; Energy harvesting -- Materials -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Materials -- Periodicals; Energy storage -- Materials -- Periodicals; Photovoltaics -- Periodicals; Fuel cells -- Periodicals; Thermoelectric materials -- Periodicals; 621.31
• DOI: 10.1002/aenm.201601255
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1614-6832

Abstract

Abstract : The trends in miniaturization of electronic devices give rise to the attention of energy harvesting technologies that gathers tiny wattages of power. Here this study demonstrates an ultrathin flexible single electrode triboelectric nanogenerator (S‐TENG) which not only could harvest mechanical energy from human movements and ambient sources, but also could sense instantaneous force without extra energy. The S‐TENG, which features an extremely simple structure, has an average output current of 78 μA, lightening up at least 70 LEDs (light‐emitting diode). Even tapped by bare finger, it exhibits an output current of 1 μA. The detection sensitivity for instantaneous force sensing is about 0.947 μA MPa −1 . Performances of the device are also systematically investigated under various motion types, press force, and triboelectric materials. The S‐TENG has great application prospects in sustainable wearable devices, sustainable medical devices, and smart wireless sensor networks owning to its thinness, light weight, energy harvesting, and sensing capacities. Abstract : An ultrathin flexible single electrode triboelectric nanogenerator (S‐TENG) is demonstrated for harvesting mechanical energy and instantaneous force sensing without extra power. The flexible S‐TENG, either transparent or nontransparent, is almost a thin sheet with light weight, extreme simple structure, and low cost, and could harvest mechanical energy not only from human movements but also from ambient sources. The output current of a transparent S‐TENG with a palm size reaches 78 μA. The detection sensitivity of the instantaneous force sensor is 0.947 μA MPa −1 .