Electrode-Free Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Harvesting Human Biomechanical Energy and as a Versatile Inartificial Physiological Monitor

The emergence of portable health monitors and wearable versatile sensors brings a promising approach for real-time physiological surveillance. However, the complicated wiring connections and unsustainable power supplies have largely hindered their combination. Herein, a human body-based electrode-free triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is demonstrated, which can not only effectively harvest biomechanical energy from human walking and running, but can also serve as a self-powered versatile inartificial physiological monitor. Most importantly, no electrode material is required in the TENG. In virtue of triboelectrification between the sole and the floor, electricity is produced during human motions with the desirable open-circuit voltage of more than 150V under casual walking. The performance of the TENG is investigated under variable environmental conditions and different configurations to evaluate its adaptability. By extracting inartificial electric signals from any part of the human body, information of the footwork, lameness, body weight, and jumping height can be actively transmitted out without using any external power sources. This work provides a new self-powered route of health surveillance and disease diagnosis.