Tunable Plug-and-Play Meta-Nanogenerator Materials for Multi-Range Force Measurements

Accurate assessments of mechanical forces are crucial for the design, operation and maintenance of long-lasting engineering systems. Conventional force sensors that are deployed in engineering applications suffer from multiple shortcomings including high power consumption, poor integrability, costly, limited force sensing ranges and lack multifunctionality. In this study, we present a fully integrated, tunable meta-nanogenerator-based sensory system in a plug-and-play manner for multi-range force measurement. At the core of this system is a novel multifunctional meta-triboelectric material capable of quantitative and multi-range force detection. By integrating a triboelectric nanogenerator into the tunable mechanical metamaterial design, the proposed system actively performs self-powered force sensing while serving as a load bearing component. By effectively tuning the geometrical parameters of the proposed system, the force sensing range can be tuned to perform application-specific sensing. A modular design is employed for the proposed system, where the 3D printed mechanical and electrical components serve as individual parts that can be independently fabricated and replaced, thus enhancing integrability and system integration. Through theoretical models, numerical simulations and experiments, the mechanical and electrical performance of the proposed system is demonstrated for different operating deformations and frequencies. Artificial intelligence models are utilized to analyze the electrical signals and to accurately determine the forces solely using the voltage signals generated. The versatility of the proposed system is demonstrated through applications in civil engineering such as bearing pads, in mechanical engineering such as shock absorbers, and as neuromuscular rehabilitation equipment in biomedical engineering. Furthermore, the performance of hierarchical arrays of the proposed system is demonstrated for enhanced and simultaneous multi-range force sensing. The proposed system offers a paradigm shift in force sensing for intelligent and smart engineering systems with self-powered and multifunctional capabilities.