A 3D printed serrated contact structure triboelectric nanogenerator for swimming training safety monitoring
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: The wearable electronic devices integrated with 3D printing have attracted much attention, but the continuous power supply demand and limited application scenarios have limited their development. Here, we propose a 3D printed serrated contact structure triboelectric nanogenerator (S-TENG) designed for mechanical energy harvesting and swimming training safety monitoring. Leveraging the advancements in 3D printing technology, we created a flexible, lightweight sensor integrated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films on a serrated substrate. This configuration enhances the contact surface area, leading to a significant improvement in energy harvesting efficiency compared to flat structures. Specifically, the serrated structure resulted in a 64 %, 63 %, and 47 % increase in open-circuit voltage (V oc ), short-circuit current (I sc ), and transferred charge (Q sc ), respectively, owing to the contact area and unique surface functional structure. The S-TENG device exhibits excellent performance under various bending angles, with V oc , I sc , and Q sc reaching up to 98.04 V, 4.35 μA, and 38.51 nC at 90° bending. Additionally, the S-TENG maintains stable output in different humidity environments due to its fully encapsulated design, ensuring reliable operation in aquatic settings. The S-TENG can accurately measure elbow swing amplitude and frequency, providing valuable real-time data for athletes and coaches. The S-TENG's ability to detect irregular movements and potential drowning incidents underscores its promise in enhancing swimmer safety. This research demonstrates the S-TENG's utility in both energy harvesting and motion monitoring, paving the way for advanced wearable sports sensors in various athletic disciplines.
Source: Heliyon
Authors: Xiao Liang, Jie Gao, Wei Wen
Language: English
Subfield: Biomedical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,100
OpenAlex ID: W4402653757