Micropatterned Polydimethylsiloxane Triboelectric Nanogenerator: A Novel Method for Morse Code Generation and...

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have garnered considerable interest owing to their ability to produce green energy derived from low-frequency mechanical energy. The ability to use various materials and operating modes enables TENGs to be extensively applied in energy harvesting, motion detection, and wearable and implantable electronics. Enhancing the power output of TENGs, expanding TENG applications in multifunctional sensing, and harvesting energy using a simple and cost-effective fabrication process are crucial. In this study, we fabricate micrometer-sized line patterns with nanoscale height on a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surface using a cost-effective and reusable glass substrate, demonstrating a simple fabrication strategy and user-friendly platform for enhanced energy harvesting and Morse code communication. The output voltage of the TENG, featuring a PDMS pattern, increased by a 175% relative to that of its nonpatterned counterpart. The increased output power of the patterned PDMS enhanced the intensity of light emitted from a light-emitting diode (LED). Moreover, the TENG charged a 1 μF capacitor to 15 V within 20 s, demonstrating the excellent energy harvesting capability of the TENG. The stored charge in the capacitor effectively activated the LED, a timer, and an electronic thermo-hygrometer. In addition, the signal generated by the TENG was employed to assign the Boolean symbols dot and dash, effectively generating and successfully decoding Morse code via a simple and user-friendly system. The patterned device could clearly distinguish dot and dash signals, yielding a large sensing window of approximately 50 V, thereby simplifying the coding and decoding process and minimizing communication errors. Morse code generated by this TENG device could enable the secure and rapid transmission of confidential and emergency messages, enhancing the quality of life in the present technologically advanced society.