Flexible and Robust Triboelectric Nanogenerators with Chemically Prepared Metal Electrodes and a Plastic Contact Interface Based on Low-Cost Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive

Abstract

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are devices that can harvest energy from mechanical motions; such devices can be used to power wearable sensors and various low-power electronics. To increase the lifetime of the device, scientists mainly use the method of making TENG in a hard skeleton to simplify the complex possible relative movements between two triboelectric parts. However, the hard skeletons cannot be embedded in soft and lightweight clothing. To make matters worse, the materials used in the garments must be able to withstand high mechanical forces when worn, such as the pressure of more than 100 KPa exerted by body pressure or everyday knocks. Notably, the TENGs are usually made of fragile materials, such as vacuum-evaporated metal electrodes and nano-sized coatings, on the contact interface; these electrodes and coatings often chip or wear off under the action of external loads. In this work, we succeeded in creating a thin, light-weight, but extremely robust garment-integrated triboelectric nanogenerator (G-TENG) that can be embedded in clothing and pass the water wash test. First, we chemically deposited a durable electrode with flexible properties for G-TENG using a novel technique called polymer-assisted metal deposition (PAMD). The as-formed metal electrodes are firmly bonded to the plastic substrate by a sub-10 nm adhesive polymer brush and can withstand a pressure of 22.5 MPa and a tear force of 0.7 MPa. We then removed the traditionally used fragile nanoparticle materials and the non-durable poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layer at the triboelectric interface, and then used a cost-effective, durable and slightly flowable pressure-sensitive adhesive to form a plastic contact interface. Such a soft plastic interface can ensure full contact of the triboelectric materials, which is excellent in complex environments and ultimately improves the power generation efficiency of the devices. The as-formed low-cost energy harvesting device could become an industry standard for future smart clothing.

Advances in Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Sustainable and Renewable Energy: Working Mechanism, Tribo-Surface Structure, Energy Storage-Collection System, and Applications

“…Numerous research efforts have focused on utilizing TENGs for self-powered sensing applications. Examples include the development of a triboelectric nanogenerator for self-powered chemical sensors [251], the construction of a ring-shaped vibration TENG for vibration sensors [252], the creation of a sliding-mode TENG for self-powered security applications [253], the fabrication of a 3DWE-TENG for self-powered stretchable sensors, the construction of an SWF-TENG for self-powered stretchable sensing [254], the development of self-powered humidity sensors with structured surfaces (nanowire, nanoporous, nanotube, and monolayer) [255], the use of a garment-integrated TENG for pressure sensors [256], the construction of hybrid TENGs for self-powered sensors [257], self-powered humidity, and temperature sensors [258], the utilization of a flexible TENG based on MXene/GO composites for self-powered health monitoring [259], the construction of a C-TENG for self-powered strain sensors [260], and the production of a hybrid TENG and a piezoelectric nanogenerator for self-powered wear-able sensors [261]. Numerous surveys have highlighted the advantages of TENGs, such as their potential as a blue energy source [262], their role as a renewable energy resource [263], their green energy source suitability with sustainable diagnostics for human healthcare applications [244], their clean energy source attributes with small sizes [150], their ability to offer flexibility and smart applications through materials like MXene-TENG [264], their use as a self-powered device for biomechanical energy harvesting and behavior sensing [265], their suitability for portable and flexible wearable sensing and human healthcare applications [266], their ability to provide flexible and self-charging power systems [267], their capacity for stability and selectivity in self-powered and advanced chemical sensor systems [268], their capability to enhance the energy conversion efficiency for powering LEDs and various TENG applications [269], their proficiency as an effective power resource for flexible pressure sensing and portable electronic equipment [270], their competence in harvesting energy from low-frequency acoustic waves for capacitor charging [146], their ability to sensitively detect physiological signals…”

Electrothermal Curable Epoxy Interface Adhesive Composite with Low Voltage: An Ideal Thermal Management and EMI Shielding Material

“…Booming development of new technologies, such as communication technology, electric vehicles, and mechanical braking energy storage drives the use of diverse high-power electronic devices and adhesive materials has proven markedly powerful over the past years and had a profound effect in the assembly of electronic products, which can meet the miniaturization and high-reliability requirements of electronic products. − Adhesive composites were generally mixed by polymer and metal powder/particle or ceramic as a multicomponent system to bond electrical components. − Previously, high-temperature oven heating was often used to cure and achieve the adhesive effect, which was time-consuming and required a high operating temperature. Especially, undesirable heating to the whole electronic devices could be achieved instead of local heating, which may damage the nonadhesive parts of components in high-temperature environment. − Therefore, it is a long-standing and urgent challenge to design a rational system so as to achieve rapid cure and adhesive properties at room temperature.…”