A Stretchable Yarn Embedded Triboelectric Nanogenerator as Electronic Skin for Biomechanical Energy Harvesting and Multifunctional Pressure Sensing

TLDR

Flexible, stretchable sensors that harvest energy and self‑power sensing are essential for wearable electronics, yet few studies integrate both functions into a single electronic skin. The authors develop a stretchable, washable skin‑inspired triboelectric nanogenerator (SI‑TENG) to harvest biomechanical energy and serve as a versatile, self‑powered pressure sensor for monitoring physiological signals such as arterial pulse and voice vibrations. The SI‑TENG uses a planar, designable conductive yarn network made from a three‑ply twisted silver‑coated nylon yarn embedded in flexible elastomer, giving it stretchability, high sensitivity, precise detection, fast response, and mechanical stability. The SI‑TENG delivers a peak average power density of 230 mW m⁻², enabling it to light 170 LEDs, charge capacitors, and power miniature electronics, while demonstrations of a prosthetic hand, pedometer/speedometer, digital keyboard, and 8×8 pressure‑sensor array confirm its versatile applications in wearable power, physiological monitoring, prostheses, and human‑machine interfaces.

Abstract

Flexible and stretchable physical sensors capable of both energy harvesting and self-powered sensing are vital to the rapid advancements in wearable electronics. Even so, there exist few studies that can integrate energy harvesting and self-powered sensing into a single electronic skin. Here, a stretchable and washable skin-inspired triboelectric nanogenerator (SI-TENG) is developed for both biomechanical energy harvesting and versatile pressure sensing. A planar and designable conductive yarn network constructed from a three-ply-twisted silver-coated nylon yarn is embedded into flexible elastomer, endowing the SI-TENG with desired stretchability, good sensitivity, high detection precision, fast responsivity, and excellent mechanical stability. With a maximum average power density of 230 mW m-2 , the SI-TENG is able to light up 170 light-emitting diodes, charge various capacitors, and drive miniature electronic products. As a self-powered multifunctional sensor, the SI-TENG is adopted to monitor human physiological signals, such as arterial pulse and voice vibrations. Furthermore, an intelligent prosthetic hand, a self-powered pedometer/speedometer, a flexible digital keyboard, and a proof-of-concept pressure-sensor array with 8 × 8 sensing pixels are successively demonstrated to further confirm its versatile application prospects. Based on these merits, the developed SI-TENG has promising applications in wearable powering technology, physiological monitoring, intelligent prostheses, and human-machine interfaces.