A self-powered and concealed sensor based on triboelectric nanogenerators for cultural-relic anti-theft systems

• Published in: Nano research 2022-09, Vol.15 (9), p.8435-8441
• Main Authors: Wang, Baocheng, Zhai, Xiaoying, Wei, Xuelian, Shi, Yapeng, Huo, Xiaoqing, Li, Ruonan, Wu, Zhiyi, Wang, Zhong Lin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atomic/Molecular Structure and Spectra; Biomedicine; Biotechnology; Chemistry and Materials Science; Condensed Matter Physics; Design optimization; Energy; Excavation; Internet of Things; Materials Science; Museums; Nanogenerators; Nanotechnology; Power consumption; Radio frequency identification; Research Article; Sensors; Theft prevention; Wave power
• ISSN: 1998-0124; 1998-0000
• DOI: 10.1007/s12274-022-4443-y

The theft prevention for cultural relics in museums, field excavation sites, and temporary exhibition events is of extreme importance. However, traditional anti-theft technologies such as infrared monitoring and radio frequency identification are highly costly, power-consuming, and easy to break. Here, a transparent, ultrathin, and flexible triboelectric sensor (TUFS) with a simple and low-cost method is proposed. With a thickness, weight, and transmittance of 92 µm, 0.12 g, and 89.4%, the TUFS manifests superb concealment. Benefiting from the characteristic of triboelectric nanogenerators, the TUFS responds effectively to common cultural-relic materials. Moreover, distinguished electrical responses can be obtained even for very small weights (10 g) and areas (1 cm 2 ), proving the sensitivity and wide range of use of the TUFS. Finally, we construct a concealed cultural-relic anti-theft system that enables real-time alarming and accurate positioning of cultural relics, which is expected to strengthen the security level of the existing museum anti-theft systems.