Advances of wearable silicone rubber-based triboelectric nanogenerators: from manufacturing to application

Abstract

Wearable bioelectronic devices are rapidly evolving towards miniaturization and multifunctionality, with remarkable features such as flexibility and comfort. However, achieving a sustainable power supply for wearable bioelectronic devices is still a great challenge. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) provide an efficient solution by converting irregular, low-frequency bioenergy from the human body into electrical energy. Beyond sustainably powering wearable bioelectronics, the harvested electrical energy also carries rich information for human body sensing. In this conversion process, the choice of material plays a crucial role in affecting the output performance of the TENGs. Among various materials, silicone rubber (SR) stands out due to its exceptional plasticity, flexibility, comfortability and other favorable properties. Moreover, with appropriate treatment, SR can achieve extreme functionalities such as high robustness, good stability, self-healing capabilities, rapid response, and more. In this review, recent advances in wearable SR-based TENGs (SR-TENGs) are systematically reviewed with a focus on their application in different parts of the human body. Given that the manufacturing method of SR-TENGs largely determines its output performance and sensitivity, this paper introduces the design of SR-TENGs, including material selection, process modulation, and structure optimization. Additionally, this article discusses the current challenges in the SR-TENG fabrication technology and potential future directions, aiming to promote the effective development of SR-TENGs in biomechanical energy harvesting and self-powered sensing applications.

Keywords

• extreme function
• silicone rubber
• triboelectric nanogenerators
• wearable bioelectronics
• energy harvesting
• self-powered sensing