Work

Processing-induced self-organised triboelectric interfaces enable event-responsive cementitious composites

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Structural materials are commonly designed to bear loads passively, whereas sensing and energy-harvesting functions are typically implemented using externally attached devices that are vulnerable to damage and interfacial failure. Here we report a processing-induced strategy for forming self-organised triboelectric interfaces directly within fibre-reinforced cementitious composites during vibration-assisted casting. Through fresh-state flow, fibre migration, and grid-assisted interception, conductive and dielectric constituents assemble into local fibre-enriched contact regions, enabling intrinsic electromechanical transduction without post-fabrication assembly. Microstructural characterisation reveals local fibre enrichment and fibre-grid interweaving around the embedded coated grid, while first-principles calculations support the interfacial charge redistribution between polyvinyl alcohol and polytetrafluoroethylene. The composites retain high mechanical toughness while exhibiting stable electrical responses under low-frequency mechanical excitation, with signal amplitude scaling with load and contact configuration. After cracking, newly created internal interfaces continue to provide functional output, demonstrating damage-tolerant electromechanical activity. We further demonstrate an event-triggered sensing system in which the embedded interfaces serve as self-powered signal sources for wake-up and alert operations. This work establishes a processing-driven route for programming functional interfaces within structural materials and provides a basis for intrinsically responsive infrastructure components. The study shows that vibration-assisted casting forms fibre-polymer contacts inside a cementitious composite, enabling electrical signals after damage and a laboratory demonstration of event-triggered alerts.

Source: Nature Communications

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-79667-3

Authors: Jingming Cai, Haolang Sun, Daiqi Li, Jiaqi Huang, Guangming Cai, Jing Wu, Hailiang Fei, Chang Wu, Liyun Ma, Liangzhu Leon Wang, Y. X. Zhang, Ruijun Zhang, Tong Guo

Institutions: Southeast University, Wuhan Textile University, Imperial College London, Concordia University, University of Technology Sydney

Language: English

Topic: Smart Materials for Construction

Subfield: Civil and Structural Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $6,990

OpenAlex ID: W7225820632

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