Self-Powered Non-Contact Triboelectric Rotation Sensor with Interdigitated Film

Rotation detection is widely applied in industries. The current commonly used rotation detection system adopts a split structure, which requires stringent installation requirements and is difficult to miniaturize. This paper proposes a single-piece self-powered non-contact sensor with an interdigital sensitive layer to detect the rotation of objects. The electric field generated between a polyurethane (PU) film and a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) film is utilized for perceiving the rotation. The surface of the PU film is subjected to wet etching with sulfuric acid to increase the surface area and charge density. Through finite element analysis and experimental testing, the effects of the areas of the sensitive films as well as the horizontal and vertical distances between them on the output voltage are analyzed. Tests are performed on adjustable-speed motors, human arms, and robotic arms. The results show that the sensor can detect the speed, the transient process of rotation, and the swing angle. The proposed rotation sensor has broad application prospects in the fields of mechanical automation, robotics, and Internet of Things (IoT).

[1]  T. Ma,et al.  Torque and rotational speed sensor based on resistance and capacitive grating for rotational shaft of mechanical systems , 2020 .

[2]  W. Guo,et al.  Triboelectric nanogenerators enabled sensing and actuation for robotics , 2019, Nano Energy.

[3]  Chenguo Hu,et al.  Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Harvesting Vibration Energy in Full Space and as Self‐Powered Acceleration Sensor , 2014 .

[4]  Long Lin,et al.  Nanoscale triboelectric-effect-enabled energy conversion for sustainably powering portable electronics. , 2012, Nano letters.

[5]  Shengming Li,et al.  Largely Improving the Robustness and Lifetime of Triboelectric Nanogenerators through Automatic Transition between Contact and Noncontact Working States. , 2015, ACS nano.

[6]  Philippe Basset,et al.  Progressive contact-separate triboelectric nanogenerator based on conductive polyurethane foam regulated with a Bennet doubler conditioning circuit , 2018, Nano Energy.

[7]  Yikang Li,et al.  Triboelectric rotational speed sensor integrated into a bearing: A solid step to industrial application , 2020 .

[8]  Chang Bao Han,et al.  Triboelectric Nanogenerators as a Self-Powered 3D Acceleration Sensor. , 2015, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[9]  Hulin Zhang,et al.  A self-powered counter/timer based on a clock pointer-like frequency-tunable triboelectric nanogenerator for wind speed detecting , 2019, Nano Energy.

[10]  Junliang Yang,et al.  The elastic microstructures of inkjet printed polydimethylsiloxane as the patterned dielectric layer for pressure sensors , 2017 .

[11]  Zhiyi Wu,et al.  Self-Powered Sensors and Systems Based on Nanogenerators , 2020, Sensors.

[12]  Zhong Lin Wang,et al.  Segmentally structured disk triboelectric nanogenerator for harvesting rotational mechanical energy. , 2013, Nano letters.

[13]  Yannan Xie,et al.  Self-powered triboelectric velocity sensor for dual-mode sensing of rectified linear and rotary motions , 2014 .

[14]  Daewon Kim,et al.  Levitating oscillator-based triboelectric nanogenerator for harvesting from rotational motion and sensing seismic oscillation , 2020 .

[15]  Zhong Lin Wang,et al.  Robust Triboelectric Nanogenerator with Ratchet‐like Wheel‐Based Design for Harvesting of Environmental Energy , 2019, Advanced Materials Technologies.

[16]  Mengdi Han,et al.  Magnetic-assisted triboelectric nanogenerators as self-powered visualized omnidirectional tilt sensing system , 2014, Scientific Reports.

[17]  Guanlong Cao,et al.  Self‐Powered Multifunctional Triboelectric Sensor Based on PTFE/PU for Linear, Rotary, and Vibration Motion Sensing , 2020, Advanced Materials Technologies.

[18]  Daewon Kim,et al.  Self-Power Dynamic Sensor Based on Triboelectrification for Tilt of Direction and Angle , 2018, Sensors.

[19]  Zhong Lin Wang,et al.  Noncontact free-rotating disk triboelectric nanogenerator as a sustainable energy harvester and self-powered mechanical sensor. , 2014, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[20]  Rui Li,et al.  Research on the Potential of Spherical Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Collecting Vibration Energy and Measuring Vibration , 2020, Sensors.

[21]  Ya Yang,et al.  Ultra‐Stable Electret Nanogenerator to Scavenge High‐Speed Rotational Energy for Self‐Powered Electronics , 2017 .

[22]  Oliver Amft,et al.  Estimating wearable motion sensor performance from personal biomechanical models and sensor data synthesis , 2020, Scientific Reports.

[23]  Chang-Qi Ma,et al.  Transparent triboelectric sensor arrays using gravure printed silver nanowire electrodes , 2019, Applied Physics Express.

[24]  Haiyang Zou,et al.  An Ultra-Low-Friction Triboelectric-Electromagnetic Hybrid Nanogenerator for Rotation Energy Harvesting and Self-Powered Wind Speed Sensor. , 2018, ACS nano.

[25]  Zhong Lin Wang,et al.  Triboelectric Nanogenerators as a Self‐Powered Motion Tracking System , 2014 .

[26]  Wei Yan,et al.  High-efficiency super-elastic liquid metal based triboelectric fibers and textiles , 2020, Nature Communications.

[27]  Guang Zhu,et al.  Fully enclosed bearing-structured self-powered rotation sensor based on electrification at rolling interfaces for multi-tasking motion measurement , 2015 .

[28]  Q. Han,et al.  A triboelectric rolling ball bearing with self-powering and self-sensing capabilities , 2020 .

[29]  Xiuhan Li,et al.  A multi-layered interdigitative-electrodes- based triboelectric nanogenerator for harvesting hydropower , 2015 .

[30]  Jun Chen,et al.  Harmonic‐Resonator‐Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator as a Sustainable Power Source and a Self‐Powered Active Vibration Sensor , 2013, Advanced materials.

[31]  Kuniharu Takei,et al.  Multifunctional Skin‐Inspired Flexible Sensor Systems for Wearable Electronics , 2019, Advanced Materials Technologies.

[32]  Qiongfeng Shi,et al.  Self‐Powered Gyroscope Ball Using a Triboelectric Mechanism , 2017 .

[33]  Aurelia Chi Wang,et al.  On the origin of contact-electrification , 2019, Materials Today.