Generation of direct current (DC) from mechanical kinetic energies is crucial for realizing self-powered wearable electronics. Here, we report a flexible textile-based DC generator based on the tribovoltaic effect at a dynamic metal-semiconducting polymer interface. The tribovoltaic effect refers to a phenomenon in which an energy "quantum" is released once an atom−atom bond is formed at the dynamic interface of two contacting materials; such released "binding" energy excites electron−hole pairs at metal−semiconductor interfaces or semiconductor−semiconductor pn junctions. This textile DC generator, based on the dynamic Schottky junction between an Al slider and a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-coated textile, can output a voltage of approximately 0.45−0.70 V. The voltage and current can be increased by simply connecting multiple generators in series or in parallel. Seven generators in series can power an electronic watch constantly without any conditioning circuit. These findings offer an efficient strategy for harvesting mechanical energies and realizing selfpowered electronics.
Hydrogel
has great application prospect in the field of flexible
wearable devices; however, its poor antifreezing and antidrying properties
hinder its applications in wearable devices. Herein, a self-adhesive
glycerol-hydrogel (G-hydrogel) with antifreezing and antidrying properties
was prepared successfully. The glycerol and water double-solvent system
endowed excellent antifreezing and antidrying properties with hydrogel,
which ensured the flexibility of the G-hydrogel even after being frozen
for 24 h at −15 °C or stored at room temperature for a
long time. Polydopamine (PDA)-intercalated bentonite (BT) incorporated
into the G-hydrogel contributed good comprehensive mechanical property
to the G-hydrogel. The peeling test results confirmed that G-hydrogel
has good adhesion to natural and synthetic materials because of the
existence of PDA with catechol structure. Particularly, the G-hydrogel
presented marvelous sensing capabilities for strain and pressure and
could monitor the movements of a human. In summary, this kind of self-adhesive,
antidrying, and antifreezing hybrid G-hydrogel may be a very promising
soft material for flexible wearable devices.
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