Touch-Enabled Self-Powered Elastomeric Keypad for Mapping Human Input and an Emergency Alert via Triboelectric Effect

The demand for smart, flexible electronics and wearable devices has been increasing rapidly, thereby making the user comfortable by bridging the gap between humans and machines. Herein, groundbreaking research in the field of wearable triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) and their innovative applications are presented by exploring a novel silicone elastomer-based TENG. Different approaches involve the creation of wearable flexion and ring sensors for harvesting biomechanical energy from the natural finger joint motions and for sensing finger movements, wherein the silicone film acts as triboelectric negative material and human skin acts as the positive material. Additionally, the article describes the development of a touch keypad comprising 12 silicone film-based TENG devices arranged in a 3 x 4 keypad array. Each keypress results in triboelectrification, converting mechanical energy into electrical power. Integrating an Arduino microcontroller and a graphical user interface provides user-friendly and interactive functionality for recognizing and visualizing keypresses. Most notably, the article introduces the novel concept of an emergency alarm system, the global emergency tracker system, employing the 12-keypad array. Users can trigger security alerts by pressing specific key patterns, such as SOS or 911. This work showcases the potential of TENGs in wearable technology, human-machine interfaces, and security systems, pushing the boundaries of energy harvesting and practical applications in diverse fields. The combination of materials, device designs, and applications highlights the innovative nature of this research, promising advancements in sustainable energy generation and personal safety. This work explores silicone sealant gel as a novel active material to create a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG)-based self-powered touch keypad comprising 12 keys for security applications. While touching with finger skin, it generates sensor data to an Arduino microcontroller in order to recognize keypress patterns. The system initiates security alerts when specific patterns are detected.image (c) 2023 WILEY-VCH GmbH

Automated summary

This article presents groundbreaking research on wearable triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) and their applications in flexible electronics and wearable devices. It introduces a novel silicone elastomer-based TENG and showcases innovative applications such as wearable sensors, touch keypads, and emergency alarm systems. This research highlights the potential of TENGs in energy harvesting, human-machine interfaces, and personal safety.