Issue 8, 2023

Flexible triboelectric nanogenerators using transparent copper nanowire electrodes: energy harvesting, sensing human activities and material recognition

Abstract

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have emerged as a promising green technology to efficiently harvest otherwise wasted mechanical energy from the environment and human activities. However, cost-effective and reliably performing TENGs require rational integration of triboelectric materials, spacers, and electrodes. The present work reports for the first time the use of oxydation-resistant pure copper nanowires (CuNWs) as an electrode to develop a flexible, and inexpensive TENG through a potentially scalable approach involving vacuum filtration and lactic acid treatment. A ∼6 cm2 device yields a remarkable open circuit voltage (Voc) of 200 V and power density of 10.67 W m−2 under human finger tapping. The device is robust, flexible and noncytotoxic as assessed by stretching/bending maneuvers, corrosion tests, continuous operation for 8000 cycles, and biocompatibility tests using human fibroblast cells. The device can power 115 light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a digital calculator; sense bending and motion from the human hand; and transmit Morse code signals. The robustness, flexibility, transparency, and non-cytotoxicity of the device render it particularly promising for a wide range of energy harvesting and advanced healthcare applications, such as sensorised smart gloves for tactile sensing, material identification and safer surgical intervention.

Graphical abstract: Flexible triboelectric nanogenerators using transparent copper nanowire electrodes: energy harvesting, sensing human activities and material recognition

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
16 3 2023
Accepted
12 5 2023
First published
15 5 2023
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Mater. Horiz., 2023,10, 3124-3134

Flexible triboelectric nanogenerators using transparent copper nanowire electrodes: energy harvesting, sensing human activities and material recognition

B. Bagchi, P. Datta, C. S. Fernandez, P. Gupta, S. Jaufuraully, A. L. David, D. Siassakos, A. Desjardins and M. K. Tiwari, Mater. Horiz., 2023, 10, 3124 DOI: 10.1039/D3MH00404J

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