E-perlite@Graphene-Based Thermal Isolation Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Abnormal Engine Vibration Monitoring

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Energy Harvesting

Background:

• Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are promising for energy harvesting and sensing.
• High temperatures degrade polymer-based TENGs, limiting their functionality.
• Developing thermally stable TENGs is crucial for applications in extreme environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a thermally stable and robust composite foam for TENGs.
• To enhance the energy conversion and sensing capabilities of TENGs at high temperatures.
• To demonstrate the TENG's application in monitoring engine malfunctions under harsh conditions.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized core-shell expanded perlite@graphene particles via high-temperature carbonization.
• Incorporated particles into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to form a composite foam (EPGP).
• Fabricated and tested EPGP-based TENGs for thermal insulation, flame retardancy, energy output, and sensing performance.

Main Results:

• The EPGP composite exhibited ≈2.1 times higher thermal resistance than PDMS.
• EPGP significantly reduced heat/smoke release rates and total release.
• EPGP-based TENGs showed enhanced open-circuit voltage (186 V) and short-circuit current (0.3 µA cm⁻²) at room temperature, maintaining stable output (106 V, 0.16 µA cm⁻²) at 200 °C.
• Demonstrated TENG application in monitoring engine vibrations and detecting malfunctions.

Conclusions:

• The developed EPGP composite foam provides excellent thermal insulation and flame retardancy for TENGs.
• The EPGP-based TENG demonstrates superior energy harvesting and stable sensing performance at high temperatures.
• This technology advances thermal-insulation composites for TENG-based microelectronics in extreme environments, enabling reliable engine monitoring.