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![TENG used in smart shoes. (a) A completely flexible array of nanogenerators used to collect energy generated during walking [40]. (b) A real-time foot pressure monitoring insole based on the nanogenerator [41].(c) A laboratory model of self-powered intelligent footwear using a TENG/EMG hybrid strategy [42]](publication/355541436/figure/fig4/AS:11431281256711436@1719567504250/TENG-used-in-smart-shoes-a-A-completely-flexible-array-of-nanogenerators-used-to.jpg)
TENG used in smart shoes. (a) A completely flexible array of nanogenerators used to collect energy generated during walking [40]. (b) A real-time foot pressure monitoring insole based on the nanogenerator [41].(c) A laboratory model of self-powered intelligent footwear using a TENG/EMG hybrid strategy [42]
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![Working mechanism of the first flexible triboelectric nanogenerator [28]](publication/355541436/figure/fig2/AS:11431281256749090@1719567503658/Working-mechanism-of-the-first-flexible-triboelectric-nanogenerator-28_Q320.jpg)
Self-powered technology is a novel power supply technology. In recent years, self-powered intelligent products have attracted much interests. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) can convert mechanical energy into electrical energy by contact and relative motion, thus providing the possibility of self-powering for electronic equipments. However, TE...
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In recent years, sensors have been moving towards the era of intelligence, miniaturization and low power consumption, but the power-supply problem has always been a key issue restricting the popularization and development of machine-mounted sensors on the rotating machinery. Herein, we develop a ring-type triboelectric nanogenerator (R-TENG) that f...
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... Moreover, the application of TENGs as wearable power sources, implants, sensors, and biosensors has been reported. TENGs are designed in four operating modes: freestanding, vertical contact-separation, relative-sliding, and single-electrode modes [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. ...
This paper systematically investigates the effective parameter on the performance of polydimethylsiloxane/graphene (PDMS@Gr)-based triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) as well as their applications. PDMS@Gr films containing 0, 0.05, 0.5, 1, and 1.5 wt.% graphene are synthesized, and their surface characteristics, mechanical behavior, and electrical properties are characterized. Vertical contact-separation mode TENGs are fabricated, and their performance is evaluated. The results demonstrate that the surface roughness and surface charge density are the most critical parameters for the performance of PDMS@Gr-based TENGs compared to the electrical and mechanical properties of the friction layers. The PDMS@Gr-based TENG with 1 wt.% graphene shows the highest power output of 2.6 W/m² at an optimized working condition (5 Hz and 15 N). It also exhibits stable power output until 15,000 working cycles and displays battery-free applications by powering a light-emitting diode (LED) array, a calculator, a digital watch, and a digital thermometer.
... These TENG-based robots are promising alternatives to conventional rigid sensors, and they enhance the capabilities of robotics [36,37]. TENGs also promote the integration of robotics and the development of new flexible structures [38,39]. TENGs offer several advantages over other sensing technologies such as resistive, capacitive, and optical sensors [40]. ...
Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), offering self-powered actuation, grasping, and sensing capabilities without the need for an external power source, have the potential to revolutionize the field of self-powered robotic systems. TENGs can directly convert mechanical energy into electrical energy that can be used to power small electronics. This review explores the huge potential of TENGs' mechanisms and modes for various robotics actuation and sensing applications. Firstly, the improvements in efficiency and reliability of TENG-based actuation systems by self-powered actuation systems are discussed. Following that, TENG-based grippers having controlled gripping power and a distinctive ability to self-calibrate for precise and sharp object handling are enlightened. Additionally, the design and development of TENG-based pressure sensors incorporated into robotic grippers are further discussed. Self-powered multimode-sensing robotic devices, which can sense many stimuli such as temperature, applied force and its direction, and humidity, are briefly discussed. Integrating self-powered robotic systems with human-machine-interaction (HMI) technologies enables more sophisticated and intelligent robotic contact with its external environment, is also highlighted. Finally, we addressed the challenges and future improvements in this emerging field. In conclusion, TENGs can open up a wide range of opportunities for self-powered actuation, gripping, and sensing with exceptional efficiency and precision while being compatible with both soft and rigid robotic systems.
... Nowadays, various energy harvesting technologies have been developed, such as triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) [14][15][16], piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) [17], electromagnetic generators (EMGs) [18], thermoelectric/pyroelectric generators (PyENGs/TEGs), and solar cells (SCs) [19,20]. Among these energy harvesters, TENGs are invented on the basis of the triboelectric effect and electrostatic induction coupling, and are considered as promising for powering potable electronics and sensor nodes, as well as for having a wide material selection, being simple to manufacture, and being lightweight [21][22][23]. ...
The rapid development of smart devices and electronic products puts forward higher requirements for power supply components. As a promising solution, hybrid energy harvesters that are based on a triboelectric nanogenerator (HEHTNG) show advantages of both high energy harvesting efficiency and multifunctionality. Aiming to systematically elaborate the latest research progress of a HEHTNG, this review starts by introducing its working principle with a focus on the combination of triboelectric nanogenerators with various other energy harvesters, such as piezoelectric nanogenerators, thermoelectric/pyroelectric nanogenerators, solar cells, and electromagnetic nanogenerators. While the performance improvement and integration strategies of HEHTNG toward environmental energy harvesting are emphasized, the latest applications of HEHTNGs as multifunctional sensors in human health detection are also illustrated. Finally, we discuss the main challenges and prospects of HEHTNGs, hoping that this work can provide a clear direction for the future development of intelligent energy harvesting systems for the Internet of Things.
... The mechanical properties of materials used in TENGs have a significant impact on their performance. Specifically, the elasticity and friction coefficient of TENGs play a critical role in determining their output power, mechanical energy loss, and voltage [7,16,17]. Also, a higher surface roughness can increase the contact area and charge density of TENGs, resulting in higher output power [7]. Notably, elasticity allows TENGs to recover their original shape after deformation, reducing mechanical energy loss and improving their durability [7]. ...
... In addition, the working mode of the TENG affects the selection and performance of the materials for the triboelectric sensors. Four fundamental working modes exist: lateral sliding mode, single-electrode mode, vertical contact separation mode, and freestanding triboelectric layer mode [102,103]. Among these, the single-electrode mode of the TENG stands out due to its simple configuration and easy fabrication. ...
In recent years, extensive research has been conducted on the development of high-performance flexible tactile sensors, pursuing the next generation of highly intelligent electronics with diverse potential applications in self-powered wearable sensors, human–machine interactions, electronic skin, and soft robotics. Among the most promising materials that have emerged in this context are functional polymer composites (FPCs), which exhibit exceptional mechanical and electrical properties, enabling them to be excellent candidates for tactile sensors. Herein, this review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in FPCs-based tactile sensors, including the fundamental principle, the necessary property parameter, the unique device structure, and the fabrication process of different types of tactile sensors. Examples of FPCs are elaborated with a focus on miniaturization, self-healing, self-cleaning, integration, biodegradation, and neural control. Furthermore, the applications of FPC-based tactile sensors in tactile perception, human–machine interaction, and healthcare are further described. Finally, the existing limitations and technical challenges for FPCs-based tactile sensors are briefly discussed, offering potential avenues for the development of electronic products.
... Literature identifies that the TENG can deliver peak power density of 0.1-2.76 W/m 2 , where the input motion driving the generator electrode is having an amplitude of a few millimeters [55]. However, for the applications where the vibration amplitude is limited to a few hundred microns, the power density is limited within 0.20-0.68 ...
In this work, the novel design of a sliding mode TriboElectric Nano Generator (TENG)—which can utilize vibration amplitude of a few hundred microns to generate useful electric power—is proposed for the first time. Innovative design features include motion modification to amplify relative displacement of the TENG electrodes and use of biological material-based micron-sized powder at one of the electrodes to increase power output. The sliding mode TENG is designed and fabricated with use of polyurethane foam charged with the biological material micropowder and PolyTetraFluoroEthylene (PTFE) strips as the electrodes. Experimentations on the prototype within frequency range of 0.5–6 Hz ensured peak power density of 0.262 mW/m2, corresponding to the TENG electrode size. Further numerical simulation is performed with the theoretical model to investigate the influence of various design parameters on the electric power generated by the TENG. Lastly, application of the proposed TENG is demonstrated in a wearable device as an in-shoe sensor. Conceptual arrangement of the proposed in-shoe sensor is presented, and numerical simulations are performed to demonstrate that the real size application can deliver peak power density of 0.747 mW/m2 and TENG; the voltage will accurately represent foot vertical force for various foot force patterns.
... As a kind of emerging energy-harvesting technologies, nanogenerators, such as triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) and piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENG), are proposed for scavenging mechanical energies from our ambient environment and transforming them into electricity in a distributed manner [16]. TENGs are fabricated based on electrostatic inductive coupling and the triboelectric effect, while PENG is developed based on the piezoelectric effect and generating alternating currents from the polarization, both with advantages of a high output voltage, simple fabrication, lightweight, and small sizes [17][18][19][20]. ...
Piezoelectric and triboelectric nanogenerators have been widely studied in the past years for their advantages of easy design/manufacturing, small size, and flexibility. Nanogenerators that are developed based on the coupled piezoelectric and triboelectric effects (PTCNG) can make full use of the mechanical energies and achieve both higher output and sensing performance. This review aims to cover the recent research progress of PTCNG by presenting in detail their key technologies in terms of operating principles, integration concept, and performance enhancement strategies, with a focus on their structural simplification and efficiency performance improvement. The latest applications of PTCNG in tactile sensors and energy-harvesting system are also illustrated. Finally, we discuss the main challenges and prospects for the future development of PTCNG, hoping that this work can provide a new insight into the development of all-in-one mechanical energy-scavenging and sensing devices.
... In the past few decades, flexible sensing technology has undergone rapid development, greatly expanding the power of natural sensors. On one hand, the noticeable progress of flexible electronic manufacturing technology on 3D freedom surfaces 1−3 and the great breakthrough of self-powered technology 4,5 greatly expand the application scenarios of flexible sensing. On the other hand, this substantial development is mainly reflected on sensitivity in the field of flexible pressure sensors. ...
A broad linear range of ionic flexible sensors (IFSs) with high sensitivity is vital to guarantee accurate pressure acquisition and simplify back-end circuits. However, the issue that sensitivity gradually decreases as the applied pressure increases hinders the linearity over the whole working range and limits its wide-ranging application. Herein, we design a two-scale random microstructure ionic gel film with rich porosity and a rough surface. It increases the buffer space during compression, enabling the stress deformation to be more uniform, which makes sure that the sensitivity maintains steady as the pressure loading. In addition, we develop electrodes with multilayer graphene produced by a roll-to-roll process, utilizing its large interlayer spacing and ion-accessible surface area. It benefits the migration and diffusion of ions inside the electrolyte, which increases the unit area capacitance and sensitivity, respectively. The IFS shows ultra-high linearity and a linear range (correlation coefficient ∼ 0.9931) over 0-1 MPa, an excellent sensitivity (∼12.8 kPa-1), a fast response and relaxation time (∼20 and ∼30 ms, respectively), a low detection limit (∼2.5 Pa), and outstanding mechanical stability. This work offers an available path to achieve wide-range linear response, which has potential applications for attaching to soft robots, followed with sensing slight disturbances induced by ships or submersibles.
... Third, the performance of traditional electronic components is susceptible to temperature, humidity, sweating, washing, friction, and other factors. To address these challenges, various portable power supplies and self-powered systems have been actively explored [27,28]. Among them, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) attracted a lot of attention and experienced a successful development due to the advantage of lightweight, low cost, high energy-conversion efficiency, flexible structure design, and environmental friendliness [29,30]. ...
The novel combination of textiles and triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) successfully achieves self-powered wearable electronics and sensors. However, the fabrication of Textile-based TENGs remains a great challenge due to complex fabrication processes, low production speed, high cost, poor electromechanical properties, and limited design capacities. Here, we reported a new route to develop Textile-based TENGs with a facile, low-cost, and scalable embroidery technique. 5-ply ultrathin enameled copper wires, low-cost commercial materials, were utilized as embroidery materials with dual functions of triboelectric layers and electrodes in the Textile-based TENGs. A single enameled copper wire with a diameter of 0.1 mm and a length of 30 cm can produce over 60 V of open-circuit voltage and 0.45 µA of short circuit current when in contact with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fabric at the frequency of 1.2 Hz and the peak value of contact force of 70 N. Moreover, the triboelectric performance of enameled copper wire after plasma treatment can be better than that without plasma treatment, such as the maximum instantaneous power density can reach 245 μW/m which is ~ 1.5 times as much as the untreated wire. These novel embroidery TENGs possess outstanding triboelectric performance and super design capacities. A 5×5 cm² embroidery sample can generate an open-circuit voltage of 300 V and a short circuit current of 8 μA under similar contact conditions. The wearable triboelectric embroidery can be employed in different parts of the wear. A self-powered, fully fabric-based numeric keypad was designed based on triboelectric embroidery to serve as a human-machine interface, showing good energy harvesting and signal collection capabilities. Therefore, this study opens a new generic design paradigm for textile-based TENGs that are applicable for next-generation smart wearable devices.
... Energy harvesting is a sustainable technology that extracts electricity from the energy spent in daily-life activities of people [1][2][3][4][5]. Consumer products with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) attached to shoes and straps have been developed to identify their position in the dark [6,7]. In addition, the number of small devices for measurement and communication has increased with the development of the Internet of Things [8][9][10]. ...
This paper proposes a swing-magnet-type generator that utilizes environment vibration for energy harvesting applications. This device consisted of a liquid, a swing magnet with a float, and a coil, and it was expected to generate electricity using the minute vibration of a bicycle. The vibration of the wide frequency band of the bicycle was converted into a vibration of a low-frequency mover. The yoke size of the permanent magnet affected the linkage flux and swing characteristics. Therefore, we verified the effect of the mover characteristics on the swing moment by structural simulations and vibration experiments using a linear motor. The yoke size changed the torque, which affected the resonant frequency of the swing. The magnetic-field analysis revealed the effect on the flux linkage in the yoke. The output voltage of the generator in the bicycle was 2.1 V, which could power a light-emitting diode.
