Flexible triboelectric nanogenerator based on cost-effective thermoplastic polymeric nanofiber membranes for body-motion energy harvesting with high humidity-resistance

The development of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) which can be utilized to transform small and irregular energy into electricity provides a new idea to alleviate the serious energy crisis. In this study, a type of flexible TENG based on cost-effective thermoplastic polymeric nanofiber membranes fabricated via melt-blending extrusion method with good compatibility to garment had been proposed, which could be used to harvest the lowfrequency mechanical energy produced by human motions. In the presence of modifications, in-situ chemical oxidative polymerization and facile dip-coating, the prepared TENG exhibited excellent humidity-resistance. Triggered by periodic motions, the device which could be applied to charge the commercial capacitor and more than 200 green LEDs revealed a high output power density of 2.06 W/m(2) after introducing polyaniline. The practicability of the obtained device to scavenge the energy of body motions had been successfully proved. Especially with hand tapping as an example, the open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current reached up to 340.8 V and 73.7 mu A respectively, which indicated that it is suitable for thermoplastic polymeric nanofiber membranes with outstanding wearability to be employed in TENGs to be a power supply for the smart garment under a high relative ambient humidity.