Stretchable triboelectric nanogenerator with exteroception-visualized multifunctionality

Abstract

Stretchable photoelectric devices combining mechano- and thermochromic liquid crystals (LCs) with a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) assembly show great application prospects as wearable biomotion energy harvesters and optically visualized, multifunctional sensors in the upcoming intelligent era. Here, we report a cellulose derivative LC based TENG (LC-TENG) with outstanding assistance visualization towards both deformation and thermal stimuli as well as triboelectric sensing and self-charging capacities fabricated by a facile and cost-effective approach involving water trapping improvement of the LC and overlapping-joint-structure construction of the TENG. The water volatilization rate in the LC decreases due to the addition of polyols as humectants and lubricants, simultaneously leading to the change in the nematic nanostructure and a positive contribution to color brightness and homogeneity. The LC-TENG achieves reversible, angle-independent, highly sensitive (274.5 nm kPa⁻¹) tactile positioning on the visual interface, along with energy collection from biomotion under arbitrary complex deformations. When exposed to a high-temperature source, the device exhibits an immediate, ultrafast and reversible whitening phenomenon within seconds. This woven LC-TENG presents a promising design direction for mechano- and thermochromically exteroception-visualized, self-powered multifunctional devices that can be applied in human motion or robot movement detection, energy harvesting, and skin-like thermal perception.