Air-Permeable and Washable Paper-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator Based on Highly Flexible and Robust Paper Electrodes

The development of paper-based triboelectric nanogenerator (P-TENG) has gained increasing importance because of the growing demand for the next-generation wearable and portable electronics. However, currently, the limited washability and breathability of P-TENG have largely hindered its further development in wearable applications. Here, an air-permeable and washable P-TENG is successfully fabricated using highly flexible and robust multiwalled carbon nanotubes coated air-laid paper electrodes. The good air permeability of the P-TENG makes it comfortable when directly laminated onto human skin for wearable applications. Furthermore, the P-TENG not only exhibits excellent flexibility and mechanical stability, but also shows remarkable washing durability. The P-TENG can be utilized as self-charging systems to drive electronic devices or self-powered active sensor to monitor human body motions. This work presents a new possibility of the integration of paper-based energy-harvesting devices with cloth/skin for building low-cost, green, and multifunctional wearable devices and systems.