Transparent Triboelectric\nNanogenerators and Self-Powered\nPressure Sensors Based on Micropatterned Plastic Films

Abstract

Transparent, flexible and high efficient power sources\nare important\ncomponents of organic electronic and optoelectronic devices. In this\nwork, based on the principle of the previously demonstrated triboelectric\ngenerator, we demonstrate a new high-output, flexible and transparent\nnanogenerator by using transparent polymer materials. We have fabricated\nthree types of regular and uniform polymer patterned arrays (line,\ncube, and pyramid) to improve the efficiency of the nanogenerator.\nThe power generation of the pyramid-featured device far surpassed\nthat exhibited by the unstructured films and gave an output voltage\nof up to 18 V at a current density of ∼0.13 μA/cm². Furthermore, the as-prepared nanogenerator can be applied\nas a self-powered pressure sensor for sensing a water droplet (8 mg,\n∼3.6 Pa in contact pressure) and a falling feather (20 mg,\n∼0.4 Pa in contact pressure) with a low-end detection limit\nof ∼13 mPa.