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Research Article Issue
Eutectogel-based self-powered wearable sensor for health monitoring in harsh environments
Nano Research 2024, 17 (6): 5559-5568
Published: 15 January 2024
Downloads:34

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) have emerged as a highly promising energy harvesting technology, attracting significant attention in recent years for their broad applications. Gel-based TENGs, with superior stretchability and sensitivity, have been widely reported as wearable sensors. However, the traditional hydrogel-based TENGs suffer from freezing at low temperatures and drying at high temperatures, resulting in malfunctions. In this study, we introduce an anti-freezing eutectogel, which uses a deep eutectic solvent (DES), to improve the stability and electrical conductivity of TENGs in harsh environmental conditions. The eutectogel-based TENG (E-TENG) produces an open-circuit voltage of 776 V, a short-circuit current of 1.54 µA, and a maximum peak power of 1.1 mW. Moreover, the E-TENG exhibits exceptional mechanical properties with an elongation at a break of 476% under tension. Importantly, it maintains impressive performances across a wide temperature range from −18 to 60 °C, with conductivities of 2.15 S/m at −10 °C and 1.75 S/m at −18 °C. Based on the excellent weight stability of the E-TENG sensor, motion sensing can be achieved in the air, and even underwater. Finally, the versatility of the E-TENG can serve as a wearable sensor, by integrating it with Bluetooth technology. The self-powered E-TENG can monitor various human motion signals in real-time and send the health signals directly to mobile phones. This research paves a new road for the applications of TENGs in harsh environments, offering wireless flexible sensors with real-time health signal monitoring capabilities.

Open Access Research Article Issue
High-performance triboelectric nanogenerator based on theoretical analysis and ferroelectric nanocomposites and its high-voltage applications
Nano Research Energy 2023, 2: e9120074
Published: 23 May 2023
Downloads:493

With the growing economy and technology, disease prevention and individual health are becoming more and more important. It is highly urgent to develop a non-toxic, self-powered, and safe high-voltage power source to prevent diseases spread by mosquitoes, especially in isolated or remote areas. Herein, we reported a high-performance rotary triboelectric nanogenerator (R-TENG) based on customized theoretical simulations and a ferroelectric nanocomposite intermediate layer. The customized theoretical simulations based on gradient electrode gaps were established to optimize gap angles and segment numbers of the electrodes, which could prevent air breakdown and enhance the R-TENG output energy by at least 1.5 times. Meanwhile, the electrical output performance of the TENG was further enhanced with a highly oriented BaTiO3 (BTO) nanoparticles intermediate layer by about 2.5 times. The open-circuit voltage of R-TENG reached more than 6 kV and could continuously light 3420 light-emitting devices (LEDs) or 4 serially connected 36 W household fluorescent lamps. Therefore, a self-powered high-voltage disease prevention system is developed based on the high-performance R-TENG to reduce the risk of disease transmission. This work provides a prospective strategy for the further development of TENGs and expands practical applications of self-powered and high-voltage systems.

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