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Stretchable triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) represent a new class of energy-harvesting devices for powering wearable devices. However, most of them are associated with poor stretchability, low stability, and limited substrate material choices. This work presents the design and demonstration of highly stretchable and stable TENGs based on liquid metalel ectrodes with different phases. The conductive and fluidic properties of eutectic gallium-indium (EGaIn) in the serpentine microfluidic channel ensure the robust performance of the EGaIn-based TENG upon stretching over several hundred percent. The bi-phasic EGaIn (bGaIn) from oxidation lowers surface tension and increases adhesion for printing on diverse substrates with high output performance parameters. The optimization of the electrode shapes in the bGaIn-based TENGs can reduce the device footprint and weight, while enhancing stretchability. The applications of the EGaIn- and bGaIn-based TENG include smart elastic bands for human movement monitoring and smart carpets with integrated data transmission/processing modules for headcount monitoring/control. Combining the concept of origami in the paper-based bGaIn TENG can reduce the device footprint to improve output performance per unit area. The integration of bGaIn-TENG on a self-healing polymer substrate with corrosion resistance against acidic and alkaline solutions further facilitates its use in various challenging and extreme environments.

Wearable electronic devices have shown great application prospects in the fields of tactile sensing, electronic skin, and soft robots. However, the existing wearable electronic devices face limitations such as power supply challenges, lack of portability, and discomfort, which restrict their applications. The invention of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) with dual functions of energy harvesting and sensing provides an innovative solution to address these issues. This study prepared a highly stretchable conductive hydrogel using doped conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as a strain sensor, demonstrating high sensitivity (GF = 4.31), an ultra-wide sensing range (0–1690%), ultra-fast response speed (0.15 s), excellent durability, and repeatability. A high-performance triboelectric nanogenerator was constructed using the hydrogel as an electrode, achieving an output performance of up to 192 V. Furthermore, the TENG fixed in the hands, wrists, legs, and feet of the human body can be used as a wearable electronic device to monitor human motion, which is conducive to promoting the development of triboelectric nanogenerators based on conductive hydrogels in strain sensors and self-powered wearable devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AFBI E-skin with good biocompatibility integrating antifouling, antibacterial, and breathability functions is developed for self-powered motion monitoring and ultra-long-range human-machine interaction. E-skin shows "dynamic-static" synergistic antibacterial strategy by combination of triboelectric effect and PANI charge action. The ultra-long-range human-machine interaction control system, enables synchronized hand gestures between human hand and robotic hand in any internet-covered area worldwide theoretically. [Display omitted] • AFBI E-skin enables stable signal output for motion monitoring, even when splashed with water. • AFBI E-skin integrates antifouling, antibacterial, biocompatibility and breathability. • AFBI E-skin shows a synergistic effect of "dynamic-static" antibacterial activity. • Ultra-long-range human-machine interaction control system developed using AFBI E-skin. Electronic skin (e-skin) inspired by the sensory function of the skin demonstrates broad application prospects in health, medicine, and human–machine interaction. Herein, we developed a self-powered all-fiber bio-inspired e-skin (AFBI E-skin) that integrated functions of antifouling, antibacterial, biocompatibility and breathability. AFBI E-skin was composed of three layers of electrospun nanofibrous films. The superhydrophobic outer layer Poly(vinylidene fluoride)-silica nanofibrous films (PVDF-SiO 2 NFs) possessed antifouling properties against common liquids in daily life and resisted bacterial adhesion. The polyaniline nanofibrous films (PANI NFs) were used as the electrode layer, and it had strong "static" antibacterial capability. Meanwhile, the inner layer Polylactic acid nanofibrous films (PLA NFs) served as a biocompatible substrate. Based on the triboelectric nanogenerator principle, AFBI E-skin not only enabled self-powered sensing but also utilized the generated electrical stimulation for "dynamic" antibacterial. The "dynamic-static" synergistic antibacterial strategy greatly enhanced the antibacterial effect. AFBI E-skin could be used for self-powered motion monitoring to obtain a stable signal output even when water was splashed on its surface. Finally, based on AFBI E-skin, we constructed an ultra-long-range human-machine interaction control system, enabling synchronized hand gestures between human hand and robotic hand in any internet-covered area worldwide theoretically. AFBI E-skin exhibited vast application potential in fields like smart wearable electronics and intelligent robotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas sensors are now widely employed in many industries due to the rapid speed of industrialization and the growth of the Internet of Things. However, the wearability and mobility of traditional gas sensors are limited by their high reliance on external power sources. Nanogenerators (NGs) can compensate for their power source limitations when paired with gas sensors by transforming the environment's widely dispersed low-frequency energy into electrical energy, allowing for self-powered gas detection. The paper thoroughly examines the advancements made in the field of NG-based self-powered gas sensor research in recent years. A systematic description is given of the two main types of NG-based self-powered gas sensors. Lastly, the evolution of sensor use in a few typical gas sensing applications is highlighted, and the field's future development trend is anticipated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are emerging as new technologies to harvest electrical power from mechanical energy. With the distinctive working mechanism of triboelectric nanogenerators, they attract particular interest in healthcare monitoring, wearable electronics, and deformable energy harvesting, which raises the requirement for highly conformable devices with substantial energy outputs. Here, a simple, low‐cost strategy for fabricating stretchable triboelectric nanogenerators with ultra‐high electrical output is developed. The TENG is prepared using PTFE micron particles (PP‐TENG), contributing a different electrostatic induction process compared to TENG based on dielectric films, which was associated with the dynamics of particle motions in PP‐TENG. The generator achieved an impressive voltage output of 1000 V with a current of 25 μA over a contact area of 40 × 20 mm2. Additionally, the TENG exhibits excellent durability with a stretching strain of 500%, and the electrical output performance does not show any significant degradation even after 3000 cycles at a strain of 400%. The unique design of the device provides high conformability and can be used as a self‐powered sensor for human motion detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has emerged as a promising technology for efficiently converting ambient mechanical energy into electrical energy. Among various designs, the disk-based rotational TENG has demonstrated significant potential, as it can continuously harvest energy in a sliding mode via a grating mechanism. However, horizontal mechanical energy is more common than rotational energy in many practical applications. Herein, the present study introduces a novel device: the double horizontal linear-to-rotational triboelectric nanogenerator (DHLR-TENG). This innovative approach utilizes a gear system to convert horizontal linear mechanical energy into electrical energy. The experimental results revealed that the DHLR-TENG produces a full cycle of alternating current (AC) when integrated into an electrical circuit. It consistently delivers robust performance with an open-circuit voltage of 544 V, a short-circuit current of 61.16 µA, and a maximum power output of 33.27 mW. Additionally, the device durability, capable of withstanding over 1,000,000 cycles, makes it highly effective for powering small electronic devices, such as charging capacitors and illuminating commercial LEDs. The DHLR-TENG's versatility and efficiency mark it as a major advancement in energy harvesting, with broad implications for powering portable electronic devices in a wide range of environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]