High-performance and robust biomimetic triboelectric nanogenerators for energy harvesting and self-powered wearable tactile sensing

High-performance and robust Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) with biomimetic micro-structured PDMS and nanostructured aluminum as main tribo-layers have been proposed. Leaf of Calathea Zebrina plant is used as a mold to prepare PVA template which is further used to obtain micro-structured PDMS layer whereas nanostructures on aluminum surface have been created by water-assisted oxidation process. Corresponding TENG assembled in vertical contact-separation mode produces VOC -430 V and ISC -45 mu A with high power density of 8.89 W m(-2). Excellent performance stability observed at least over 20,000 cycles and up to 120 days is another remarkable feature of the proposed TENG. Further, these TENGs are found highly viable as self-powered wearable tactile sensors for several hand and foot-based tactile activities, which can precisely record spatial and temporal details of the activity. Such TENG development strategies, which involve mimicking of natural micro-patterns have huge performance potential and may play an integral role to augment commercial prospects of TENGs in their wide application spectrum.