Wearable and Stretchable Triboelectric Nanogenerator Based on Crumpled Nanofibrous Membranes

Abstract

Triboelectric nanogenerator could efficaciously harvest the mechanical energy that come from the ambient environment, which has become a research hotspot in the sphere of wearable electronic technology. Here, a self-powered and highly stretchable single-electrode triboelectric nanogenerator with an undulating three-dimensional surface crumpled structure is reported. The triboelectric nanogenerator has a multilayer structure with a crumpled nanofiber membrane as the triboelectric material. Due to the materials and structural innovations, the triboelectric nanogenerator possesses outstanding electric output stability and stretchability. It could subtly transform the unstretched flexible nanofiber membrane into a stretchable material, while overcoming the deficiency that the nanofiber membrane has a tendency to be delaminated from the electrode layer during long-term operation. Utilizing the triboelectric nanogenerator directly attached to human skin could efficaciously harvest the ignored mechanical energy that come from our daily activities.