Punching pores on cellulose fiber paper as the spacer of triboelectric nanogenerator for monitoring human motion

Abstract As a new type of energy harvesting device, the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) can convert mechanical energy into electrical energy effectively. Paper-based materials have gained considerable attention for use in flexible energy harvesting device applications because of their flexibility, environmental friendliness (i.e., they are biodegradable and renewable), and foldability. This work proposes a strategy to use cellulose fibers layer as a spacer of paper-based triboelectric nanogenerator (P-TENG). The P-TENG consists of a three-layer fiber material and a copper electrode. The three-layer fiber material comprises nylon, cellulose, and polypropylene, where the cellulose fiber layer contains millimeter-sized holes and is used as a spacer. Because of its attractive cuttability and flexibility properties, the P-TENG can be applied on a large scale in complex environments (e.g., sports fields, driving training fields) to detect signal changes caused by external pressure This type of device has great potential for application to the large-scale TENG field and may provide a new solution for TENG industrialization.