Dynamic wear sensor array based on single-electrode triboelectric nanogenerators

ABSTRACT Smart sensor is the foundation and core of intelligent manufacturing, which is developing for miniaturization, integration and self-powering. Here, we report an active sensor array based on single-electrode triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) for dynamic wear monitoring and positioning. The sensor unit is fabricated by embedding the electrode into the core-shell composite with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as the core and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) as the shell. The working mechanism and performances of the sensor unit with different parameters including the thickness of PTFE@PMMA layer, reciprocating frequency, sliding displacement, electrode width and the diameter of copper bar are systematically investigated and discussed. By integrating into the sensor array, the dynamic wear monitoring and positioning have been realized, which can be used to detect the wear states of multiple regions in the sliding bearing system. This work has extended the application of the TENGs to determine the wear states of polymer interface and may promote the great development of intelligent bearing.