VIPS-Inspired Surface Roughening of Ultrathin PDMS Films for Self-Powered Triboelectric Sensors in Gamified Hand...

Traditional wearable sensors for rehabilitation and movement-sensing electronics face critical challenges, including limited sensitivity, mechanical rigidity, restricted scalability, lack of quantitative feedback, and insufficient patient motivation, all of which hinder therapeutic effectiveness. Herein, this study reports a facile, effective approach for fabricating ultrathin (≈33 µm) porous polydimethylsiloxane-graphene-oxide films based on a vapor-induced phase separation-inspired surface roughening method (VISR). Such a simple method without rigid templates or complex etching methods attains great enhancements in triboelectric performance. Furthermore, incorporating graphene oxide dispersion solutions into the PDMS matrix enhances the dielectric behavior. Coupling with a hydroxide-grafted nylon fabric, the device produced a remarkable output of 264 V and 10 µA, far surpassing pristine PDMS by 900%, and demonstrates robust operational stability up to 10 000 cycles. Integrated within a glove-based system, this device accurately captures and converts diverse hand motions into electrical signals, supporting real-time feedback in a personalized rehabilitation game tailored to maximize patient engagement and direct harvesting of biomechanical energy. This scalable materials platform not only sets new benchmarks for biomechanical energy harvesting but also paves the way for wearable, personalized, and self-powered digital healthcare solutions.