Search

[Display omitted] • A stretchable electret achieves high surface charge and long charge stability. • A stretchable electret-based TENG achieves high charge density (0.2 mC m−2). • A power management module enhances power storage efficiency of the TENG. • The self-charging system provides a stable power supply for wearable electronics. Stretchable power sources capable of accommodating large deformations are urgently demanded for various stretchable and wearable electronics. In this work, we report a stretchable electret-based triboelectric nanogenerator (SEB-TENG) consisting of elastomeric electret as electrification materials and organo-hydrogels as electrodes. The electret elastomer, prepared by uniformly dispersing SiO 2 nanoparticles in the elastomer matrix and thermally injecting static charges, obtains a high surface potential, high tensile strain (796%), and long stability. Then, the SEB-TENG device also achieves high stretchability (423%) and high charge density (0.2 mC m−2). Furthermore, a power management module (PMM) is designed to maximize the energy utilization of the SEB-TENG. The integrated self-charging system can be sufficiently used to constantly power a watch, or charge a Li-ion coin cell which subsequently provides sustainable power supplies to a digital thermometer. This work provides a viable approach to simultaneously achieve high output performances and high stretchability of integrated power sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the coupling effect of contact electrification and electrostatic induction, the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) as an emerging energy technology can effectively harvest mechanical energy from the ambient environment. However, due to its inherent property of large impedance, the TENG shows high voltage, low current and limited output power, which cannot satisfy the stable power supply requirements of conventional electronics. As the interface unit between the TENG and load devices, the power management circuit can perform significant functions of voltage and impedance conversion for efficient energy supply and storage. Here, a review of the recent progress of switching power management for TENGs is introduced. Firstly, the fundamentals of the TENG are briefly introduced. Secondly, according to the switch types, the existing power management methods are summarized and divided into four categories: travel switch, voltage trigger switch, transistor switch of discrete components and integrated circuit switch. The switch structure and power management principle of each type are reviewed in detail. Finally, the advantages and drawbacks of various switching power management circuits for TENGs are systematically summarized, and the challenges and development of further research are prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emerging tribovoltaic nanogenerators (TVNGs) has garnered considerable attention in recent years owing to its higher power density, but it is still limited by unstable output, mismatched impedance, and lower charging speed. Herein, a power‐managed GaN‐based TVNG is first proposed and a self‐powered wireless temperature monitoring system (SWTMS) is developed. The energy backflow from transition capacitor to TVNG is effectively suppressed by applying a high‐voltage‐resistant diode. Benefiting from the combination of the maximum power point tracking (MPPT and the buck converter, an autonomous power management unit (PMU) is designed. The internal impedance of TVNG with PMU decreases by ten times and the charging speed of capacitor increases by 7.18 times compared to those without PMU. Moreover, 100 LEDs and six parallel thermohygrometers can be constantly powered. The wireless temperature monitoring in industrial environments without external power supply is demonstrated through the developed SWTMS. This work proposes an effective power management strategy for TVNG with high output voltage, which exhibits great potential to promote the development of self‐powered sensors and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tribotronics has attracted great attention as a new research field that encompasses the control and tuning of semiconductor transport by triboelectricity. Here, tribotronics is reviewed in terms of active mechanosensation and human–machine interfacing. As a fundamental unit, contact electrification field‐effect transistors are analyzed, in which the triboelectric potential can be used to control electrical transport in semiconductors. Several tribotronic functional devices have been developed for active control and information sensing, which has demonstrated triboelectricity‐controlled electronics and established active mechanosensation for the external environment. In addition, the universal triboelectric power management strategy and the triboelectric nanogenerator‐based constant sources are also reviewed, in which triboelectricity can be managed by electronics in the reverse action. With the implantation of triboelectric power management modules, the harvested triboelectricity by various kinds of human kinetic and environmental mechanical energy can be effectively managed as a power supply for self‐powered microsystems. In terms of the research prospects for interactions between triboelectricity and semiconductors, tribotronics is expected to demonstrate significant impact and potential applications in micro‐electro‐mechanical systems/nano‐electro‐mechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS), flexible electronics, robotics, wireless sensor network, and Internet of Things. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]