Human–machine interactions (HMIs) have advanced rapidly in recent decades in the fields of healthcare, work, and life. However, people with disabilities and other mobility problems do not have corresponding high-tech aids for them to enjoy the convenience of HMIs. In this paper, we propose a sensor with a wave-shaped (corrugated) electrode embedded in a friction layer, which exhibits high sensitivity to skin fold excitation and enormous potential in HMIs. Attributing to the wave-shaped electrode design, it has no built-in cavities, and its small size allows it to flexibly cope with folds at different angles. By specifying the carbon nanotube hybrid silicone film as the electrode layer material and silicone film as the friction layer, good electrical output performance, tensile properties, and biocompatibility can be achieved. Then, the sensor is tested on various joints and skin folds of the human body, the output signals of which can be distinguished between normal physiological behavior and test behavior. Based on this sensor, we designed a medical alarm system, a robotic arm assistive system, and a cell phone application control system for the disabled to help them in the fields of healthcare, work, and life. In conclusion, our research presents a feasible technology to enhance HMIs and makes a valuable contribution to the development of high-tech aids for the disabled.

As a widely used security device, the electronic passworded locker is designed to protect personal property and space. However, once the password is leaked to an unauthorized person, its security is lost. Here, with the assistance of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), we present an intelligent electronic passworded locker (IEPL) based on unique and personalized security barriers, which can accurately extract users’ habits of entering passwords through integrated deep learning. The key of the IEPL adopts the single electrode mode of TENG that accurately recognizes the input behavior of a person based on machine learning, which serves as a reliable, unique, and unreproducible gate, with advantages of thin thickness, diversified structure, and simple preparation method. Finally, the proposed IEPL offers a reliable solution for improving the overall security of passworded lockers and extending the application of TENG-based sensors in the smart home.

Untapped thermal energy, especially low-grade heat below 373 K from various sources, namely ambient, industries residual, and non-concentrated solar energy, is abundant and widely accessible. Despite that, there are huge constraints to recycle this valuable low-grade heat using the existing technologies due to the variability of thermal energy output and the small temperature difference between the heat source and environment. Here, a thermal-mechanical-electrical energy conversion (TMEc) system based on the Curie effect and the soft-contact rotary triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is developed to recycle thermal energy in the mid-low temperature range. According to the phase transition mechanism between ferromagnetic and paramagnetic, disk-shaped ferromagnetic materials can realize stable rotation under external magnetic and thermal fields, thus activating the operation of TENGs and realizing the conversion of thermal energy and electrical energy. During the steady rotation process, an open-circuit voltage (V_OC) of 173 V and a short-circuit current (I_SC) of 1.32 µA are measured. We finally obtained a maximum power of 4.45 mW in the actual working conditions, and it successfully charged different capacitors. This work provides a new method for mid-low temperature energy harvesting and thermal energy transformation and broadens the application of TENG in the field of thermal energy recovery.

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 cm²), 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.

In the era of big data and the Internet of Things, the digital information of athletes is particularly significant in sports competitions. Here, an intelligent self-powered take-off board sensor (TBS) based on triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) with a solid-wooden substrate is provided for precise detection of athletes’ take-off status in the sport of triple-jumping, which is sufficient for triple-jumping training judgment with a high accuracy of 1 mm. Meanwhile, a foul alarm system and a distance between the athlete’s foot and take-off line (GAP) measurement system are further developed to provide take-off data for athletes and referees. The induced charges are formed by the TBS during taking-off, and then the real-time exercise data is acquired and processed via the test program. This work presents a self-powered sports sensor for intelligent sports monitoring and promotes the application of TENG-based sensors in intelligent sports.