The rapid development of stretchable
electronics and soft robotics
requires a sustainable power source that can match their mechanical
stretchability in various working environments. Ionic hydrogel-based
soft triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) show great promise for those
application scenarios. However, ionic hydrogel-based TENGs suffer
from the freezing issue under subzero temperatures. In this study,
a low-cost, highly stretchable, and antifreezing ionic triboelectric
nanogenerator (iTENG) is designed to involve a dielectric elastomer
and a freeze-tolerant ionic hydrogel as the electrification layer
and the electrode, respectively. The iTENG design achieves a unique
combination of merits such as robust hydrogel–elastomer bonding,
high stretchability (300%), and excellent tolerance of extremely low
temperature (down to −53 °C). Because of the reliable
interfacial bonding, the iTENG shows a good mechanical durability
under different stretching conditions. The iTENG can harvest mechanical
energies from various human motions and can also serve as a self-powered
wearable sensor in both regular and extremely cold environments. The
stretchable iTENG overcomes the strain-induced performance degradation
of existing stretchable materials with percolated conductive fillers
and the water freezing-induced degradation of conductive ionic hydrogels,
providing a feasible design of stretchable and sustainable power sources
for stretchable electronics and soft robotics operating in harsh environments.
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