On-Skin Triboelectric Nanogenerator and Self-Powered Sensor with Ultrathin Thickness and High Stretchability

Researchers have devoted a lot of efforts on pursuing light weight and high flexibility for the wearable electronics, which also requires the related energy harvesting devices to have ultrathin thickness and high stretchability. Hence, an elastic triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is proposed that can serve as the second skin on human body. The total thickness of this TENG is about 102 µm and the device can work durably under a strain of 100%. The carbon grease is painted on the surface of elastomer film to work as stretchable electrode and thus the fine geometry control of the electrode can be achieved. This elastic TENG can even work on the human fingers without disturbing body movement. The open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current from the device with a contact area of 9 cm² can reach 115 V and 3 µA, respectively. Two kinds of self-powered sensor systems with optimized identification strategies are also designed to demonstrate the application possibility of this elastic TENG. The superior characteristics of ultrathin thickness, high stretchability, and fine geometry control of this TENG can promote many potential applications in the field of wearable self-powered sensory system, electronics skin, artificial muscles, and soft robotics.