Harsh-Environmental-Resistant Triboelectric Nanogenerator and Its Applications in Autodrive Safety Warning

Rapid advancements in multifunctional triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) for energy harvesting and self-powered sensing must be partnered with corresponding advances in durability and heat-resistance, especially under harsh working conditions. A device suitable for harsh environmental applications based on the wear-resistant triboelectric material is reported. The working modes of the harsh-environmental TENG (heTENG) are composed of freestanding and single electrode that enable both harvesting sliding/vibration energy and self-powered vibrational sensing. For the first time, a TENG possessing wear resistance, withstanding high temperature, and high hardness is achieved by employing micro-nanocomposite for triboelectric materials. It is demonstrated to be directly used as a key supporting part, such as automobile's brake pads. In addition, it is found that the heTENG outputs 221 V, 27.9 mu A cm(-2), and 33.4 mu C cm(-2). Furthermore, since heTENG is vibration-sensitive, the automobile's self-powered smart braking system and sensor network are developed successfully which can automatically provide a precise early-warning signals, such as a reminder for brake replacement, and an indicator for tire overloading, and pressure. This work shows a new strategy to enhance the performance of triboelectric materials, making it applicable to harsh environments, as well as potential applications in autonomous vehicles and industrial brakes.