Multifunctional\nSmart Cement Sensor Based on Triboelectric\nNanogenerators

In the 21st century’s wave of technological advancement,\nsensors, as a key component of the Internet of Things (IoT), have\nsignificantly propelled the development of smart cities and intelligent\ntransportation systems. However, the high deployment costs of traditional\nsensors limit their practicality for large-scale applications and\nmaintenance. To address this issue, this study proposes a low-cost,\nconcealed, durable, and highly scalable multifunctional smart cement\nsensor based on triboelectric nanogenerators (SC-TENG) for constructing\nan all-weather intelligent monitoring system. By embedding differently\nshaped surface insulating electrodes into the cement and applying\nsuper-hydrophobic treatment to the cement surface, the SC-TENG can\neffectively monitor vehicle speed, measure vehicle length, and provide\nfencing warnings in public places at a low cost. Experimental results\nindicate that the SC-TENG can operate stably under various environmental\nconditions, maintaining stable output in ambient temperatures from\n0 to 40 °C and relative humidity of 30%–70%, with negligible\nsignal degradation even after approximately 2500 cycles. This research\nis significantly important for enhancing road safety, improving public\nsecurity, and reducing energy consumption, providing technical support\nand solutions for the construction of smart cities.