Fully self-healing and shape-tailorable triboelectric nanogenerators based on healable polymer and magnetic-assisted electrode

Abstract

Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) as a promising mechanical energy harvester has been rapidly developed recently. However, its robustness and endurance are seriously challenged by frequent and inevitable mechanical impacts during operation. Herein, we demonstrate, for the first time, a fully self-healing TENG possessing the ability to recover its performance after damage by introducing healable polymer materials and electrodes consisting of small magnets into the device. Our works imply that high-performance self-healing TENG can be readily realized attributed to not only the excellent mechanical-healing capability of the employed healable polymer but also the quick electric-healing capability of the novel magnetic-assisted electrodes designed for the TENG. The measurements indicate that both the output voltage and current of the healed device can reach up to above 95% of their original values even after the 5th breakage-healing cycle. Additionally, the presented TENG also shows shape-tailorability and object-adaptability. This maximizes the effective contact area of device and further increases the electric output performance to benefit energy harvesting and self-powered sensing of versatile mechanical motions. This research will offer feasible strategies for developing novel mechanical energy harvesting devices and self-powered sensors with recoverability, robustness and adaption.