A corn leaf based-strain sensor and triboelectric nanogenerator for running monitoring and energy harvesting

Abstract

Recently, advanced wearable devices with posture sensing and energy harvesting have received widespread attention. Thus, we proposed a dual-function device (energy harvesting and running posture sensing), including carbon attached corn leaf strain sensor (CC-strain sensor) and a corn leaf-based triboelectric nanogenerator (C-TENG).According to the results, the relative resistance rate (ΔR/R0) exhibits linear characteristics in the three strain regions, and its linear coefficients are all above 0.96. Besides, at low strain rates from 0.01% to 0.1%, the CC-strain sensor can reach high sensitivity for monitoring weak signals, such as expressions in dance performances. The C-TENG device can achieve mechanical energy harvesting, providing a way to power low-power portable devices. From the results, the maximum power of C-TENG can arrive at 222 μW (resistance: 100 MΩ). This research can provide a new path to integrate strain sensors and TENG devices in running monitoring.

Keywords

• Piezoresistive strain sensor
• Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs)
• Running monitoring
• Energy harvesting
• Corn leaf