Work

Tribo‐Electromagnetic Nanogenerator Based on Microstructured Polyvinyl Chloride Layer for Enhanced Hybrid Energy Harvesting and Intelligent Health Monitoring

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) offer an attractive route toward self‐powered wearable systems, yet their intermittent output, constrained material options, and limited multimodal harvesting capabilities continue to restrict practical deployment. Here, we present a high‐performance tribo‐electromagnetic nanogenerator (TEMNG) constructed from CO 2 ‐laser‐engineered microstructured polyvinyl chloride (PVC) films, enabling simultaneous harvesting of biomechanical and electromagnetic (EM) energies. The optimized micro‐crater architecture substantially enhances contact‐electrification efficiency, achieving triboelectric outputs of 1094 V, 98 µA, and 28.7 W m −2 , exceeding the performance of most previously reported single‐electrode TENGs. The device also demonstrates robust EM‐energy harvesting, producing 61 V, 18.8 µA, and 0.26 W m −2 , surpassing state‐of‐the‐art hybrid TENG platforms. This synergistic dual‐mode operation enables rapid capacitor charging and continuous powering of practical electronics—including 800 LEDs, LCD timers, and thermohygrometers – without external power sources. When integrated into wearable configurations, the TEMNG enables real‐time gait monitoring, rehabilitation assessment, and in‐shoe biomechanical energy harvesting. Furthermore, by coupling TEMNG‐derived gait signatures with a convolutional‐neural‐network/random‐forest model, the system achieves 99.5%‐accuracy user authentication, highlighting triboelectric signals as a powerful biometric modality. Overall, this work establishes microstructured PVC‐based TEMNGs as a scalable and multifunctional platform that unifies hybrid energy harvesting, intelligent sensing, and secure human‐machine interactions for next‐generation self‐powered electronics.

Source: Small

DOI: 10.1002/smll.73393

Authors: Ching‐Te Kuo, Kai‐Che Lai, Zhen‐Xiang Liang, Meng‐Chian Wu, Chien‐Chin Chen

Institutions: National Sun Yat-sen University, National Chung Hsing University, Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, National Cheng Kung University

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials

Subfield: Biomedical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $5,790

Funder: National Science and Technology Council