Self-powered highly stretchable ferroelectret nanogenerator towards intelligent sports

Abstract

Ferroelectret nanogenerators (FENGs), recognized for their porous structures that facilitate charge retention, thereby creating giant electric dipoles and exhibiting remarkable piezoelectric properties, are utilized in the development of various flexible transducers. However, despite their flexibility, most developed ferroelectret nanogenerators lack adequate stretchability and satisfactory transverse piezoelectric properties, significantly inhibiting their widespread deployment in wearable or skin-mounted electronics. Here, we introduce a highly stretchable ferroelectret nanogenerator (HS-FENG) built from laser-induced graphene (LIG), Ecoflex and anhydrous ethanol, demonstrating exceptional flexibility and stretchability, along with longitudinal and transverse piezoelectric effects. The stretchability of HS-FENG can reach a record of 468 %, while the quasi-static piezoelectric coefficients d33 and d31 are approximately 120 pC/N and 70 pC/N, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the developed FENG with remarkably high stretchability. Furthermore, leveraging the performance of the created HS-FENG, we construct a skin-mounted intelligent kinesiology tape capable of effectively monitoring motion signals from human muscles and joints, thereby offering a deeper understanding of movement for users across different levels of physical activity, from professional athletes to individuals undergoing rehabilitation. The development of intelligent kinesiology tape exemplifies the potential of HS-FENG technology in enhancing professional athletic training and personalized healthcare. It contributes to the advancement of inconspicuous skin-mounted biomechanical feedback systems and human-machine interfaces, marking progress in the field.

Keywords

• Nanogenerator
• Ferroelectret
• Stretchable
• Flexible
• Transverse piezoelectricity
• Sports training