Development of a highly transparent and flexible touch sensor based on triboelectric effect

Abstract

Wearable devices are inevitable in future lifestyles. Sensors, especially touch sensors, are fundamental requisites and key driving forces for related technologies. Moreover, the requirement of standalone operation without an external power supply is increasing in several fields due to a wide range of functionalities. We developed a triboelectric effect-based self-powered touch sensor (TESS) with highly transparent and flexible characteristics. The current film type of a TESS exhibits a high light transmittance of 89% and can function as a sensor on highly curved states. The electrical signals generated from a TESS under various conditions, such as bent/unbent state, material of the counter surface, and attached state to human skin, were analyzed. The TESS can be used to measure the magnitude and exact moment of the contact and detachment of other materials while attached to other substrates. This study could significantly increase the applicability of self-powered touch sensors for flexible electronic devices and related technologies.

Facile Tailoring of Contact Layer Characteristics of the Triboelectric Nanogenerator Based on Portable Imprinting Device

“…On this basis, we develop a portable imprinting device to easily tailor the characteristics of the PDMS contact layer of TENG, such as thickness and morphology of the surface structures, as shown in Figure 1a. According to the literature, PDMS is widely utilized as a contact layer material of TENG and has various advantageous characteristics of easy processibility with mild curing condition, optical clearness, chemical inertness, and biocompatibility [38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49]. In addition, the PDMS-based TENG can generate relatively high electrical output performance [40].…”

“…These characteristics are critical to determine the electrical output performance of TENG. PDMS, which belongs to a group of polymeric organosilicon compounds, is widely utilized as a contact layer of TENG and has various advantageous characteristics of easy processibility, optical clearness, chemical inertness, and biocompatibleness [38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49]. Adoption of the rationally designed screw enables us to elaborately and uniformly control the thickness of the PDMS contact layer.…”

A highly sensitive magnetic configuration‐based triboelectric nanogenerator for multidirectional vibration energy harvesting and self‐powered environmental monitoring

“…The triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), which uses the electrification generated through sequential contact and the separation of two different material surfaces, has attracted worldwide attention as a novel vibration energy harvester due to its advantageous characteristics, such as simple configuration, cost-effective fabrication, diverse material selection, and high accessibility. [29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37] The TENG is especially appropriate for harvesting vibration energy, which can be considered a relatively weak source of energy because its only required to generate electricity is the relative movement between two different materials. Of the broad vibration bands, low-frequency vibrations, which are considered rather difficult to harvest through traditional vibration energy harvesters (eg, electromagnetic and piezoelectric energy harvesters) compared to high-frequency vibrations, are particularly effective in operating the TENG.…”

Toward Enhanced Humidity Stability of Triboelectric Mechanical Sensors via Atomic Layer Deposition

“…Triboelectric effect-based sensors have been investigated to develop reliable mechanical and chemical sensors. The triboelectric sensors can detect changes in pressure [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ], mechanical motion [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ], position [ 20 ], vibration [ 21 , 22 , 23 ], velocity [ 24 , 25 , 26 ], liquid volume [ 27 , 28 ], and various chemicals in different phases [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ]. Generally, the operation of triboelectric sensors is based on contact electrification and electrostatic induction [ 33 , 34 , 35 ]; specifically, the triboelectric behavior is based on surface phenomena.…”