Flexible, Eco-Friendly, and Superhydrophobic Textile-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Biomechanical Energy Harvesting and Self-Powered Human Motion Sensing

In recent years, nonrenewable fossil energy consumption and environmental pollution have led to widespread attention to the development and utilization of green energy. The emergence of triboelectric nanogenerators is one of the technologies that enables the utilization of renewable energy. Many triboelectric materials have been developed; however, the drawbacks of hydrophilicity and rigidity of materials have hindered their application. Here, a superhydrophobic flexible nanofiber membrane (HPP-NF) was prepared by electrospinning and spraying. Polycaprolactone (PCL), which is nontoxic and biodegradable, was used as the substrate, doped with conductive nanoparticles, and finally, the fiber membrane was modified by long-chain silane and silicon dioxide (SiO2). HPP-NF has excellent liquid repellency and self-cleaning properties. The assembled HPP-TENG can achieve open-circuit voltage (VOC) and short-circuit current (ISC) of 150 V and 11 μA, respectively, and has stable electrical output performance in high humidity environment. The HPP-TENG can be used as a self-powered source to light up more than 236 LEDs and power small electronic devices, as well as for human movement monitoring. This work provides a strategy for the development of flexible and eco-friendly as well as superhydrophobic textile-based triboelectric materials.