Scalable Self-Powered Sensor Based on Triboelectric Nanogenerators with Surface-Modulated Electronegativity for Harsh...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Energy Harvesting

Background:

• Self-powered sensors are crucial for extreme environments like biomedical implants and deep-sea exploration.
• Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) offer efficient energy harvesting but face challenges in scalable, stable fabrication.
• Existing methods often rely on nanostructuring, limiting scalability and performance in diverse conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a scalable and cost-effective surface modification strategy for TENGs.
• To enhance TENG performance in water and across varying temperatures.
• To enable practical, large-area fabrication for commercial applications.

Main Methods:

• Surface functionalization of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) electrodes with fluorine (-F) and amino (-NH2) groups via an immersion process.
• Chemical anchoring of elements with varying electronegativities to modify substrate properties.
• Utilizing thermal annealing to ensure stable performance after surface functionalization.

Main Results:

• Achieved a 600-fold increase in output current for NH2/fluorinert-modified TENGs compared to pristine PDMS/PDMS.
• Demonstrated a 225-fold increase in triboelectric potential through electronegativity modulation.
• Confirmed stable device performance across temperatures (25-100 °C), underwater, and under prolonged stress.

Conclusions:

• Surface functionalization offers a scalable and effective method for enhancing TENG performance.
• This breakthrough facilitates the commercialization of TENGs for wearable electronics and IoT devices.
• The developed large-area fabrication approach makes self-powered technology more accessible and practical.