Double Helix Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Self-Powered Weight Sensors

Abstract Discovering renewable and sustainable power sources is an inevitable trend in the development of green electronics and sensor networks. Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) can efficiently harvest energy in the environment and serve as sensing elements. In this work, we have proposed a double helix TENG (DH-TENG) for harvesting mechanical energy produced by human motion and perform weight sensing. The double helix structure significantly reduces the costs of TENG and improving its space efficiency and charge utilization. This prototype DH-TENG can provide an open-circuit voltage of 42.9 V and a short-circuit current of 1.8 μA. The corresponding peak power density is approximately 8.87 μW/cm-3, which is capable of lighting two LEDs alternately. Besides, the as-fabricated DH-TENG can also serve as a self-powered weight scale.