A bioinspired triboelectric nanogenerator for all state energy harvester and self-powered rotating monitor

Abstract The extensive applications of triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) in the fields of energy harvesting and self-powered sensing have attracted enormous concern. However, the TENG based on specially structured electrodes could always not be able to harvest energy in specific directions because of its strict symmetrical electrode structure. Herein, inspired by the novel structures of fish scales, a biomimetic fish-scale-like triboelectric nanogenerator (FSL-TENG) was intelligently designed and manufactured based on PET film and PTFE sheet. Due to the periodically symmetrical arrangement of the fish-scale-like electrodes and the curvilinear shape of each side, FSL-TENG could be used to harvest the energy generated by rotating motion and the mechanical sliding in any direction of the plane without off state. Besides, FSL-TENG could act as a self-powered sensor for the monitoring of rotation status. In the plane sliding mode, the output performance of FSL-TENG in all directions was tested. Remarkably, when θ=45°, the output current, output voltage and output power reached the maximum value, which were 63 V, 6.2 μA and 175.13 μW, respectively. In addition, FSL-TENG could efficiently harvest the energy generated by the sliding of the mouse. The slider of FSL-TENG and the electrode were partially fixed on the bottom of the mouse and mouse pad, respectively. When the mouse was sliding, the FSL-TENG is capable of undertaking the power consumption of simultaneously lighting dozens of LEDs. Furthermore, in the rotating mode, the output performance of FSL-TENG at different rotating speeds was investigated. When the rotating speed was 250 r/min, the FSL-TENG could charge 220 μF capacitor to 2.5 V within 130 s and drive the electronic watch to constantly work for 284 s. FSL-TENG is a kind of flexible, lightweight and adaptable device. The fish-scale-like electrode structure broadens the design ideas of the electrode structure. What is more, this bioinspired design provides a new strategy for energy harvesting and self-powered sensing.