Scalable fabrication of hierarchically structured graphite/polydimethylsiloxane composite films for large-area triboelectric nanogenerators and self-powered tactile sensing

Sun, Q.-J., Lei, Y., Zhao, X.-H., Han, J., Cao, R., Wu, W., Heidari, H. , Li, W.-J., Sun, Q. and Roy, V. A.L. (2021) Scalable fabrication of hierarchically structured graphite/polydimethylsiloxane composite films for large-area triboelectric nanogenerators and self-powered tactile sensing. Nano Energy, 80, 105521. (doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.105521)

Abstract

Health monitoring, e-skin, and soft robotics call for large-area and robust energy-harvesting strategy to powering their embedded sensors and peripheral electronics. Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is an optimum option to energizing self-powered sensors and self-charging systems. Herein, a large-scale facile and compatiable bar-assisted printing method is presented to achieve hierarchically microstructured polymer composite triboelectric film with good hydrophobicity to improve the electrical output performance and achieve the robustness of TENG. The electrical outputs of the TENG devices are tuned by imparting the graphite fillers into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with optimal concentration. The achieved microstructured graphite/PDMS composite based TENG supplies high and stable short-circuit current of 42 µA, open-circuit voltage of 410 V, and transferred charges of 160 nC under an applied force of 1.2 N, which are sufficient enough to power wearable sensors or charge the energy storage devices. The TENG devices can charge a 2.2 µf capacitor to 1.5 volts within 2 seconds, lighten 30 commercial green LEDs, and drive an electronic watch as well. Self-powered tactile sensing has also been desmonstrated by attaching the TENG devices onto a rubber glove to monitor the process in grasping objects. Furthermore, a large-scale self-powered sensor array is fabricated and utilized to map the spatial pressure distributions. This work not only demonstrates a scable fabrication of the hierarchically microstructured polymer composite films for high-performance TENGs with high electrical outputs, excellent durability and ambient stability, but also brings insight into the development of future cost-effective and self-powered electronics.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Vellaisamy, Professor Roy and Heidari, Professor Hadi
• Authors: Sun, Q.-J., Lei, Y., Zhao, X.-H., Han, J., Cao, R., Wu, W., Heidari, H., Li, W.-J., Sun, Q., and Roy, V. A.L.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering
• Journal Name: Nano Energy
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 2211-2855
• ISSN (Online): 2211-3282
• Published Online: 22 October 2020
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 Crown Copyright
• First Published: First published in Nano Energy 80: 105521
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy