Dramatic advances in wearable electronics have triggered tremendous demands for wearable power sources. To mitigate the impact of CO2 emission on the environment caused by energy consumption, biomechanical energy harvesting for self‐powered wearable electronics offers a promising solution. The output power of devices largely relies on the surface charge density, where adhesion interfaces generate a higher amount than nonadhesion counterparts, yet unfavorable for wearable devices due to the large detachment force required. Thus, sustaining high surface charge density in an adhesion‐free interface represents a major challenge. Herein, by leveraging intermolecular interactions and solvent evaporation induced phase separation, a nonadhesion interface is successfully realized, minimizing the interfacial adhesion from 20 to 0 kPa. Importantly, benefiting from the induced nano/microscale topography upon phase separation, comparable surface charges are generated at the interface. Consequently, a high‐performance flexible biomechanical energy harvester featuring a record high peak power density of 20.5 W m‐2 Hz‐1 at low matching impedance of 1 MΩ is achieved under a low biomechanical input force of 5 N. The device can power small electronics by harvesting regular or intermittent biomechanical energy and illuminate light‐emitting diodes wired/wirelessly. This work provides a facile strategy for interfacial engineering toward efficient energy harvesting.
Flexible zinc-ion batteries with hydrogel electrolytes are the most perspective energy storage system for wearable applications because of their low cost, safety, abundant zinc reserves, and environmental compatibility. While hydrogel...
Stretchable power devices and self‐powered sensors have become increasingly desired for wearable electronics and artificial intelligence. In this study, an all‐solid‐state triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is reported, whose one solid‐state structure prevents delamination during stretch and release cycles and increasing the patch adhesive force (3.5 N) and strain (586% elongation at break). Through the synergetic virtues of stretchability, ionic conductivity, and excellent adhesion to the tribo‐layer, reproducible open‐circuit voltage (VOC) of 84 V, charge (QSC) of 27.5 nC, and short‐circuit current (ISC) of 3.1 µA after drying at 60°C or 20,000 contact‐separation cycles are obtained. Apart from contact‐separation, this device shows unprecedented electricity generation through stretch–release of solid materials leading to a linear relationship between VOC and strain. For the first time, this work provides a clear explanation of the working mechanism of contact‐free stretching–releasing and investigates the relationships of exerted force, strain, thickness of the device, and electric output. Benefitting from the one solid‐state structure, this contact‐free device remains stable even after repeated stretch–release cycling, maintaining 100% of its VOC after 2500 stretch–release cycles. These findings provide a strategy toward highly conductive and stretchable electrodes for harvesting mechanical energy and health monitoring.
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