Improving the Working Efficiency of a Triboelectric Nanogenerator by the Semimetallic PEDOT:PSS Hole Transport Layer and Its Application in Self-Powered Active Acetylene Gas Sensing

Herein we report an enhanced triboelectric nano generator (TENG) based on the contact-separation mode between a patterned film of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with a semimetallic elastomer of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and a nylon fiber film. The addition of ethylene glycol to the PEDOT:PSS film improves the functionality of the TENG significantly, yielding promising applicability in both indoor and Outdoor (i.e., under sunlight) environments, with the maximum instantaneous power of 0.09 mW (indoors) and 0.2 mW (outdoors) for the load resistance of 3.8 M Omega. The device can also generate 11.2 V and 0.08 mu A cm(-2) in response to the forearm movement of a human. Additionally, by replacing the bare nylon fiber in the TENG design with a Ag@ZnO/nylon fiber film, a self-powered active sensor (triboelectric nano generator-based sensor; TENS) has been realized to detect acetylene (C2H2) gas. The TENS exhibits excellent sensitivity of 70.9% (indoors) and 89% (outdoors) to C2H2 gas of 1000 ppm concentration. The proposed approach for harvesting energy and sensing can be advantageous in practical applications and may stimulate new research that will enhance nanogenerators as well as wearable, self-powered active sensors.