Wide-ranging impact-competent self-powered active sensor using a stacked corrugated-core sandwich-structured robust triboelectric nanogenerator

Herein, we present a stacked corrugated-core sandwich-structured triboelectric nanogenerator (CCSTENG) that can be used as an enhanced self -powered active sensor that has a working capability under a broad range of external impacts in the environment. The working performance of a single-unit TENG can be tuned by varying the core diameter of the corrugated-core structure and locating it in a crosswise and/or lengthwise orientation between two sandwich plates. The assembly of the corrugated-core structure also offers a steady gap between the sandwich plates under a strain-free condition. A CCS-TENG with a crosswise assembly exhibits higher electrical output (142-153 V; 3.2-3.9 mu A) than with a lengthwise assembly (107-123 V; 2.7-3.1 mu A) at a fixed pressing frequency of 3 Hz and different applied forces ranging from 3.0-10.1 N. A constant output voltage of 142 V and an output current of 8.8-9.3 mu A are measured at 3-10 Hz and 3.0-10.1 N when four CCS-TENGs with four different core diameters arranged crosswise are stacked in parallel. As a self -powered active hydrogen (H-2) sensor, the device can efficiently detect H-2 with a high response magnitude (similar to 83%) and a broad detection range of 0.001-1.000 vol% at the above external frequency and force range. We expect that this exceptional advancement will pave the way for a next-generation self -powered active sensor for integrated systems that has competency under a broad range of external mechanical impacts in the environment. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.