A one-structure-layer PDMS/Mxenes based stretchable triboelectric nanogenerator for simultaneously harvesting mechanical and light energy

Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has attracted enormous interests since it is able to efficiently convert various energies into electrical energy and drive low-power personal electronic sensors. However, TENG is usually restricted to harvest mechanical energy, and the realization of TENG with the ability to harvest light energy is rarely reported. In this work, a multifunctional stretchable TENG using polydimethylsiloxane/Mxenes composites as triboelectric layer is demonstrated, which is able to simultaneously harvest mechanical and light energy. Beneficial from the highly electronegative surface and intense surface plasmon excitations property of Mxenes, our TENGs exhibit high mechanical energy conversion efficiency and excellent light response property. Compared to the device without illumination, the open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current with light illumination increased from 145 to 453 V, and 27 to 131 mu A, respectively, and the instantaneous light power conversion efficiency achieved 19.6%. Meanwhile, our TENGs are demonstrated to detect sound instructions and wind speed, which can inspect frequency, amplitude, and speed in various environments. Furthermore, TENG actuated color-tunable LED matrix is fabricated to develop an environmental interaction visualization system. This work greatly expands the functionality of TENG in energy harvesting, and provides a universal strategy for simultaneously harvesting mechanical and light energy in a one-structure-layer-based TENG.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates a multifunctional stretchable TENG that can harvest both mechanical and light energy. Due to the properties of Mxenes, these TENGs exhibit high mechanical energy conversion efficiency and excellent light response. Additionally, they can detect sound instructions and wind speed, and drive color-tunable LED matrices.