Dynamic Photomask‐Assisted Direct Ink Writing Multimaterial for Multilevel Triboelectric Nanogenerator

Abstract

Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) devices are extensively studied as a mechanical energy harvester and self-powered sensor for wearable electronics and physiological monitoring. However, the conventional TENG fabrication involving assembling steps and using the single property of matrix material suffers from simple devices shape and a single level of mechanical response for sensing and energy harvesting. Here, the printed multimaterial matrix for multilevel mechanical-responsive TENG with on-demand reconfiguration of shape is reported. A multimaterial 3D printing approach by using dynamic photomask-assisted direct ink writing printing together with a two-stage curing hybrid ink is first developed. Multimaterial structures with location-specific properties, such as tensile modulus, failure stress, and glass transition temperature for controlled deformation, crack propagation path, and sequential shape memory, are directly printed. The printed multimaterial structure with sequential deformation behavior is used to fabricate a multilevel-TENG (mTENG) device for multiple level mechanical energy harvesters and sensors. It is demonstrated that the mTENG can be embedded in shoe insoles to achieve both comfortable wearing and motion state monitoring. This work provides a new approach to combine multimaterial 3D printing with TENG devices for functional wearable electronics as energy harvester and sensors.

Nanomaterial Patterning in 3D Printing

“…When the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of the particle is similar to the wavelength of the projected laser, enhanced interaction between the particle and the light gives rise to plasmon‐enhanced optical forces, which confines the particle to the center of the laser spot 352. Since the introduction of laser writing in recent decades, optical printing has spawned a variety of scientific applications352 and has been used to fabricate metal nanolattices,353 photonic crystals,354 microlens systems,43 biomimetic structures,355 and triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) 47…”

“…The synergistic integration of nanomaterials with additive manufacturing, also known as “3D printing,”25–27 can enable the creation of geometrically complex, functional constructs. The ability to pattern nanomaterials in a 3D printing process can enable the fabrication of multiscale architectures that are seamlessly integrated with functional nanomaterials 28–55. This can be achieved by patterning and guiding the assembly of nanomaterials within a 3D printing process.…”

“…Recent advances in 3D printing have demonstrated the multiscale integration of nanomaterials25–27 to enhance mechanical properties29–38,77 and impart optical,39–43 electrical,33,44–47 thermal,37,38 actuation,31,48,49 and biological50–53 properties in 3D printed devices. Further, additional control over the deposition of nanomaterials (via phenomena such as evaporation40,78 and electrical forces33,54,55) can impart anisotropy and heterogeneity in the functional properties of 3D printed constructs.…”

4D Printing: A Review on Recent Progresses

“…Controlled anisotropic alignment of cellulose fibrils were printed and these fibrils in different directions endowed flower microstructures that showed different swelling ratios in water, thus triggering biomimetic shape transformation. Chen et al 4D fabricated microstructures with graded multi-materials via photomask-assisted DIW with a two-stage curing method [ 54 ]. The crosslinked networks of photocurable resin and shape memory epoxy interlocked physically and two graded structures consisting of three levels were formed using this method.…”

Hybrid structural electronics printing by novel dry film stereolithography and laser induced forward transfer

“…[ 5–9 ] Embedded circuitry printing is potentially an enabling technology for soft robotics, [ 10–12 ] actuation, [ 13,14 ] or in any other field where sensing is required, such as the internet of things (IoT). [ 15,16 ] Devices may be completely autonomous with embedded energy sources or energy harvesting mechanisms [ 17–19 ] as well as printed or embedded wireless communication platforms. [ 20–22 ] Additive processes become progressively more relevant when miniaturization of devices takes place and where electronic functionality has to be adapted to meet customers’ requirements frequently.…”