A Direct Current Tribovoltaic Nanogenerator-Driven Self-Charging Supercapacitor for Preventing Strain Injury

In this work, a DC tribovoltaic nanogenerator (TVNG) is newly developed by featuring a metal-semiconductor heterojunction, where charge carriers are generated at the interface during sliding, producing a DC signal in the direction of the electric field. The heterojunction is formed by aluminum (Al) metal and PEDOT: PSS semiconductor, with an IL/PVDF electrolyte sandwiched between the two aluminum electrodes to form a supercapacitor. When the supercapacitor gently slides over PEDOT: PSS, it is charged independently via the tribovoltaic mechanism and referred to as a self-charging supercapacitor. The TVNG delivers a power density of 9.2 mW/m² at a resistance of 10 kQ, successfully charging the supercapacitor (areal capacitance: 110 μF/cm²) to 0.9 V. As proof of concept, the device was utilized to develop a recommendation system aimed at preventing injuries during prolonged computer use. This is an innovative work where a supercapacitor is directly charged by sliding over a semiconductor via a tribovoltaic mechanism, opening new avenues for further exploration in tribovoltaic technology.