Stretching-enhanced triboelectric nanogenerator for efficient wind energy scavenging and ultrasensitive strain sensing

• Published in: Nano energy 2020-09, Vol.75, p.104920, Article 104920
• Main Authors: Zhao, Xue, Zhang, Ding, Xu, Suwen, Qian, Weiqi, Han, Wei, Wang, Zhong Lin, Yang, Ya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Strain sensing; Stretching enhancement; Triboelectric nanogenerator; Wind energy
• ISSN: 2211-2855
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.104920

The development of intelligent electronic devices increasingly facilitates the configuration of smart city. However, the heavy using of Li-ion batteries can cause high cost and a series of environmental pollution owing to frequent charging induced by their limited electric capacity. Here, we report a stretching-enhanced triboelectric nanogenerator for efficient wind energy scavenging and ultrasensitive strain sensing based on stretchable composites. The output voltage and current signals can be dramatically increased by 220% and 380% by applying a 70% stretched strain as compared with that under the condition of 0% strain, which is associated with the stretched strain-induced increase of contact area. Moreover, the corresponding output power can be increased by 680% due to the stretched strain of 70%, while the impedance can be decreased by 58.3%. A high strain sensitivity of 1.75 ln(V) or 0.97 ln(Hz) under the stretched strains ranged from 0% to 45% can be obtained as a self-powered strain sensor. The development of intelligent electronic devices increasingly facilitates the configuration of smart city. However, the heavy using of Li-ion batteries can cause high cost and a series of environmental pollution owing to frequent charging induced by their limited electric capacity. Here, we report a stretching-enhanced TENG for efficient wind energy scavenging and ultrasensitive strain sensing based on stretchable composites. The output voltage and current signals can be dramatically increased by 220% and 380% by applying a 70% stretched strain as compared with that under the condition of 0% strain, which is associated with the stretched strain-induced increase of contact area. Moreover, the corresponding output power can be increased by 680% due to the stretched strain of 70%, while the impedance can be decreased by 58.3%. A high strain sensitivity of 1.75 ln(V) or 0.97 ln(Hz) under the stretched strains ranged from 0% to 45% can be obtained as a self-powered strain sensor. [Display omitted] •We report a stretching-enhanced TENG for efficient wind energy scavenging and ultrasensitive strain sensing.•The output power can be increased by 680% by applying a 70% stretched strain as compared with that of 0% strain.•The TENG-based strain sensor exhibits high strain sensitivity determined by both output voltage and vibration frequency.