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Flexible and Stretchable Fiber‐Shaped Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Biomechanical Monitoring and Human‐Interactive Sensing
Author(s) -
Ning Chuan,
Dong Kai,
Cheng Renwei,
Yi Jia,
Ye Cuiying,
Peng Xiao,
Sheng Feifan,
Jiang Yang,
Wang Zhong Lin
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.202006679
Subject(s) - triboelectric effect , materials science , wearable computer , wearable technology , tactile sensor , nanotechnology , pressure sensor , electronic skin , stretchable electronics , polydimethylsiloxane , nanogenerator , fiber , piezoelectricity , electronics , computer science , mechanical engineering , electrical engineering , composite material , embedded system , engineering , artificial intelligence , robot
Abstract Wearable, flexible, and even stretchable tactile sensors, such as various types of electronic skin, have attracted extensive attention, which can adapt to complex and irregular surfaces, maximize the matching of wearable devices, and conformally apply onto human organs. However, it is a great challenge to simultaneously achieve breathability, permeability, and comfortability for their development. Herein, mitigating the problem by miniaturizing and integrating the sensors is tried. Highly flexible and stretchable coaxial structure fiber‐shaped triboelectric nanogenerators (F‐TENGs) with a diameter of 0.63 mm are created by orderly depositing conductive material of silver nanowires/carbon nanotubes and encapsulated polydimethylsiloxane onto the stretchable spandex fiber. As a self‐powered multifunctional sensor, the resulting composite fiber can convert mechanical stimuli into electrical signals without affecting the normal human body. Moreover, the F‐TENGs can be easily integrated into traditional textiles to form tactile sensor arrays. Through the tactile sensor arrays, the real‐time tactile trajectory and pressure distribution can be precisely mapped. This work may provide a new method to fabricate fiber‐based pressure sensors with high sensitivity and stretchability, which have great application prospects in personal healthcare monitoring and human–machine interactions.