
Researchers have developed a gel polymer-based triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) that generates electrical signals from body movement to power electronics like LEDs and functions as a self-powered touch panel for user identification. The device can stretch up to 375 percent of its original size and withstand rigorous mechanical deformations, making it suitable for wearable applications. TENGs that convert mechanical energy such as body movement to electrical energy offer a solution to power wearable devices without relying on batteries.
To fabricate the device, the researchers poured a gel mixture of polyethylene oxide (PEO) and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) into an ecoflex mold. The gel is spread evenly and then covered with another ecoflex layer. A copper wire is attached to the gel for electrical connection, and the entire assembly is cured at 70 °C for 12 hours, allowing the gel to bond strongly with the ecoflex layers.
The result is a durable, flexible, and semitransparent device that generates electrical signals when tapped or stretched, delivering a peak power of 0.36 W/m2 at a load of 15 MΩ. In tests, the device stretched up to 375 percent of its original size without damage and could withstand two months of bending, twisting, folding, and stretching without any signs of delamination or loss of electrical performance. (Image credit: Chemical Engineering Journal/Dongguk University)
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