Hybridized piezoelectric-triboelectric effects for self-powered sensing in thermally drawn nancomposite fibers

Abstract

Wearable self-powered sensors enable continuous health and activity monitoring, yet scalable fiber-based systems capable of delivering stable electrical output for real-time physiological sensing remain limited. In this work, we report the first thermally drawn polymer fiber-based piezoelectric-triboelectric hybrid nanogenerator (PT-HNG) integrated with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) for wearable sensing applications. The hybrid fiber was fabricated via thermal drawing, with controlled incorporation of GNPs into the PVDF matrix to enhance interfacial polarization and dielectric properties, while maintaining mechanical flexibility suitable for textile integration. At an optimal GNP loading of 5 wt%, the fiber exhibits a 118% increase in open-circuit voltage and a 151% increase in short-circuit current compared to pristine PVDF fibers, delivering a peak power output of 21 µW at a 5 MΩ load and a power density of 266.27 mW/m 2 . These results demonstrate a scalable and durable fiber-based hybrid nanogenerator capable of self-powered, wireless monitoring of respiration, arterial pulse, and upper-limb muscle activity, offering a practical route toward next-generation smart textiles and continuous wearable physiological monitoring systems.