Self-powered self-healing piezoelectric hydrogel nanogenerator-based electronic skin for real-time handwriting recognition and Morse code communication
Skin-conformal human–machine interfaces that operate reliably under mechanical deformation and harsh environments are essential for next-generation wearable electronics, defense systems, and Internet of Things (IoT) platforms. Here, a resilient and stretchable flexible piezoelectric nanogenerator (RS‑FPENG) is reported that seamlessly integrates self-powered sensing and energy harvesting within a dual-hydrogel architecture. The device combines a highly conductive, self-healing ElectraGel electrode with a bio-derived BioWeave‑LS@BaTiO 3 piezoelectric core featuring a dynamically reversible multibond network, enabling exceptional mechanical compliance, environmental tolerance, and interfacial stability. The RS‑FPENG delivers a peak output voltage of ~1.15 V, representing a ~ 4.6-fold improvement over conventional PDMS-based FPENGs, with a maximum power density of 8.48 µW m⁻ 2 , fast response (~120 ms), high linearity (R 2 = 0.9738), and a sensitivity of 4.15 × 10⁻ 3 V g⁻ 1 across an ultrawide force range (0.01–883 N). Stable electromechanical performance is retained under broad humidity, temperature, and chemical conditions. Beyond energy harvesting, the RS‑FPENG enables self-powered detection of complex biomechanical motions and supports multilingual handwriting recognition and Morse code communication with real-time decoding. This work establishes a robust materials platform for environmentally resilient, battery-free wearable interfaces and intelligent assistive IoT systems.
Authors
- Palraj Ranganathan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4264-7913)
- Byungki Kim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0165-4973)
- Ragu Sasikumar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0674-7450)
- Bhuvanenthiran Mutharani
- Fang‐Chyou Chiu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9151-8539)
Institutions
- Chang Gung University (TW)
- Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (TW)
- Korea University of Technology and Education (KR)
- Saveetha University (IN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials
- Published
- 2026-07-21
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-026-01981-7
- Primary Topic
- Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Science and Technology Council
- Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
- National Research Foundation of Korea