Bioinspired, fiber-based, flexible self-powered sensor for wearable applications

Abstract

For wearable electronics, it is crucial to develop self-powered, fiber-based sensors that possess impeccable waterproofing capabilities, exceptional shape adaptability, sensitivity to nuanced mechanical displacements, and remarkable scalability. Through the utilization of ingenious processing techniques, this paper presents a biomimetic fish lateral line system fiber-based triboelectric nanogenerator (FLLF-TENG). The FLLF-TENG can adapt to any three-dimensional surface. Moreover, the maximum output voltage is increased by a factor of 3.92 compared to a TENG without the corresponding structure. By integrating the FLLF-TENG into conventional textiles, a wearable real-time respiratory monitoring system and human-machine interaction can be constructed for respiratory monitoring, virtual drones, and robot leg motion control. This work provides a new manufacturing method and bioinspired structural design strategy for developing high-performance, fiber-based, flexible electronic products, laying the foundation for the industrialization and practical application of fiber-based, flexible electronic products.