Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) devices have gotten great attention in wearable power sources and physiological monitoring. However, the complicated assembling and the molding processing retard their applications. Here, 3D-printed TENGs (3DP-TENGs) are designed and readily fabricated by a single integrated process without additional assembling steps. The TENGs contain poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as the two electrification components. Conductive CNTs also serve as electrodes. Elastic PGS matrix makes TENGs intrinsically responsive to biomechanical motions leading to robust energy outputs. The hierarchical porous structure of the 3DP-TENG results in higher output efficiency than traditional molded microporous TENG counterparts. TENGs with different 3D shapes are readily fabricated for different applications. The 3DP-TENG insole efficiently harvests biomechanical energy to drive electronics. A ring-shaped TENG acts as a self-powered sensor to monitor the motion of fingers. Furthermore, the use of bio-based and biodegradable PGS matrix combining with efficient recycle of CNTs makes 3DP-TENGs favorable from sustainable perspective. This work provides a new strategy to design and tailor 3D TENGs that will be very useful for diverse electronic applications.
In article number https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201805108, Zhengwei You and co‐workers report a simple and versatile 3D‐printing strategy to efficiently fabricate a triboelectric nanogenerator (3DP‐TENG) with an unique hierarchical porous structure, excellent elasticity, and superior energy output. 3DP‐TENGs with diverse 3D shapes are readily tailored to act as wearable energy harvesters and self‐powered sensors. The biobased, biodegradable, and biocompatiable matrix makes 3DP‐TENGs eco‐friendly and sustainable.
Self-powered information encoding devices (IEDs) have
drawn considerable
interest owing to their capability to process information without
batteries. Next-generation IEDs should be reprogrammable, self-healing,
and wearable to satisfy the emerging requirements for multifunctional
IEDs; however, such devices have not been demonstrated. Herein, an
integrated triboelectric nanogenerator-based IED with the aforementioned
features was developed based on the designed light-responsive high-permittivity
poly(sebacoyl diglyceride-co-4,4′-azodibenzoyl
diglyceride) elastomer (PSeDAE) with a triple-shape-memory effect.
The electrical memory feature was achieved through a microscale shape-memory
property, enabling spatiotemporal information reprogramming for the
IED. Macroscale shape-memory behavior afforded the IED shape-reprogramming
ability, yielding wearable and detachable features. The dynamic transesterifications
and light-heating groups in the PSeDAE afforded a remotely controlled
rearrangement of its cross-linking network, producing the self-healing
IED.
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