Flexible Triboelectric Nanogenerator Based on Carbon Nanotubes for Self‐Powered Weighing

Abstract

Diverse approaches have been adopted on harvesting ambient energy as sustainable, maintenance free, and green power sources for driving some small electronics due to the increasingly serious energy crisis. By coupling triboelectric effect and electrostatic induction, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) can harvest mechanical energy with simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and robustness. A flexible TENG based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) fabricated via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method have been introduced. The fabricated TENG can deliver output voltage of 20 V with the output power of 10.3 mW at a load of 40 MV, which can directly drive several green LEDs. In addition, commercial capacitors can be charged by TENG for energy storage, which is then utilized to drive thermal sensor. Due to the subtle structure, the TENG is proved capable of self-powered weighing.

Self-Powered Sensors and Systems Based on Nanogenerators

“…Flexible and stretchable TENGs are another design solution to construct self-powered sensors. This TENG usually uses silicone or PDMS to package some electrode materials, such as carbon black, [118][119][120] carbon grease [121], carbon nanotubes (CNTs) [122,123], Ag NWs [124][125][126], PAAm-LiCl hydrogel [127][128][129], liquid metal [85,130,131], etc. Figure 10a is an example of a soft and stretchable TENG based on carbon black [118].…”

Flexible sensors based on assembled carbon nanotubes

“…To this end, the self‐powering sensor based on contact‐separation mode was fabricated into a fiber shape with a coaxial structure, and it showed higher stability under various mechanical deformations, especially under bending and stretching. [ 100 ] In addition, the performance of self‐powering sensors based on contact‐separation mode was not affected by the environment. In this mode, an air gap between two electrodes needed to be formed by inserting a spacer [ 101 ] or constructing an arch structure.…”

Unconventional Device and Material Approaches for Monolithic Biointegration of Implantable Sensors and Wearable Electronics

“…Carbon nanotube (CNT) networks are promising candidates for stretchable electrodes in soft energy storage devices owing to their electrochemical stability, large surface area, and ease of processability. [ 158,159 ] However, their electrical conductivity is lower than that of metals, and it can be further compromised when subjected to high levels of stretching. Hong et al successfully addressed this issue of low conductivity and its related mechanical instability by developing a rubber‐like composite based on combed CNTs.…”