Abstract
Fabric Triboelectric Nanogenerators (F-TENGs) are increasingly becoming more significant in wearable monitoring and beyond. These devices offer autonomous energy generation and sensing capabilities, by replacing conventional batteries in flexible wearables. Despite the substantial effort, however, achieving high output with optimal stability, durability, comfort, and washability poses substantial challenges, so we have yet to see any practical commercial uses of these materials. This study focuses on output and investigates the impacts of mono and bimetallic composite fabric electrode configurations on the output performance of F-TENGs. Our findings showcase the superiority of bimetallic configurations, particularly those incorporating Copper (Cu) with Nickel (Ni), over monometallic (Cu only) electrodes. These configurations demonstrate remarkable results, exhibiting a maximum instantaneous voltage, current, and power density of ~ 199 V (a twofold increase compared to monometallic configurations), ~22 μA (a threefold increase compared to monometallic configurations), and 2992 mW/m², respectively. Notably, these bimetallic configurations also exhibit exceptional flexibility, shape adaptability, structural integrity, washability, and mechanical stability. Furthermore, the integration of passive component-based power management circuits significantly enhances the performance capabilities of the F-TENGs, highlighting the essential role of power management circuits and electrode selection in optimizing F-TENGs. In addition, we have developed a complete IoT-enabled touch sensor system using CuNi-BEF EcoFlex layered F-TENGs for precise detection of soft and hard touches. This advanced system enhances robotic functionality, enabling nuanced touch understanding essential for precision tasks and fostering more intuitive human-machine interactions.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 110125 |
Journal | Nano Energy |
Volume | 130 |
Early online date | 15 Aug 2024 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Nov 2024 |
Keywords
- Bimetallic Electrodes
- E-Skin
- Fabric Triboelectric Nanogenerator
- Sustainable Energy
- Touch Sensor
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- General Materials Science
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment