Layer-by-layer assembled graphene multilayers on multidimensional surfaces for highly durable, scalable, and wearable triboelectric nanogenerators

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are considered promising next-generation mechanical energy harvesters owing to their desirable attributes such as light weight, portability, eco-friendliness, and low cost. However, cost-effective, scalable, and facile manufacturing methods are still required for the commercialization of TENGs, especially for textile-type TENGs compatible with a variety of textile products. In this work, we report for the first time the layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly of graphene multilayers for low-cost, durable, scalable, and wearable TENGs. The LbL-based graphene multilayers are fabricated on polymer substrates with flat, undulated, and textile surfaces, where graphene multilayers play dual roles as a positive tribo-material and as an electrode. The polymer substrate here is utilized as a negative tribo-material. We identify the optimal number of layers for graphene composites and analyze this outcome using their morphological and electrical properties. Due to the hydrogen bonding-based LbL wet processes, graphene composite multilayers could be well deposited on undulated surfaces as well as on large-scale fabric textiles. These LbL-deposited graphene multilayers yield graphene based-TENGs (G-TENGs) with high durability and high performance. Finally, a graphene multilayer on a textile sample is demonstrated as a scalable and wearable textile-based G-TENG (TG-TENG) operated in a single electrode mode, thereby enabling low-cost manufacturing and high compatibility with textile products such as cloths, curtains, bags and so on. The simple, cost-effective, scalable, and versatile LbL assembly can therefore enable the fabrication of wearable energy harvesting sources for many portable personal microelectronic devices (e.g., self-powered wireless sensors).

[1]  Ankanahalli Shankaregowda Smitha,et al.  Roll‐to‐Roll Green Transfer of CVD Graphene onto Plastic for a Transparent and Flexible Triboelectric Nanogenerator , 2015, Advanced materials.

[2]  Yong Tae Park,et al.  Heating and acid doping thin film carbon nanotube assemblies for high transparency and low sheet resistance , 2011 .

[3]  Zhong Lin Wang,et al.  Self-Powered Acceleration Sensor Based on Liquid Metal Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Vibration Monitoring. , 2017, ACS Nano.

[4]  Tae Yun Kim,et al.  Transparent Flexible Graphene Triboelectric Nanogenerators , 2014, Advanced materials.

[5]  Zhong‐Lin Wang,et al.  A Highly Stretchable Fiber‐Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Self‐Powered Wearable Electronics , 2017 .

[6]  Alain M. Jonas,et al.  Ultrathin polymer coatings by complexation of polyelectrolytes at interfaces: suitable materials, structure and properties , 2000 .

[7]  Xue Wang,et al.  Embedding variable micro-capacitors in polydimethylsiloxane for enhancing output power of triboelectric nanogenerator , 2016, Nano Research.

[8]  Simiao Niu,et al.  Topographically-designed triboelectric nanogenerator via block copolymer self-assembly. , 2014, Nano letters.

[9]  Zhongqiu Wang,et al.  Auxetic Foam‐Based Contact‐Mode Triboelectric Nanogenerator with Highly Sensitive Self‐Powered Strain Sensing Capabilities to Monitor Human Body Movement , 2017 .

[10]  Y. Park,et al.  Note: Automatic layer-by-layer spraying system for functional thin film coatings. , 2016, The Review of scientific instruments.

[11]  Zhong Lin Wang.  Triboelectric nanogenerators as new energy technology and self-powered sensors - principles, problems and perspectives. , 2014, Faraday discussions.

[12]  F. Fan,et al.  Flexible Nanogenerators for Energy Harvesting and Self‐Powered Electronics , 2016, Advanced materials.

[13]  Jea-Gun Park,et al.  Triboelectric energy harvester based on wearable textile platforms employing various surface morphologies , 2015 .

[14]  Layer-by-Layer Assembly for Graphene-Based Multilayer Nanocomposites: Synthesis and Applications , 2015 .

[15]  Baoxia Mi,et al.  Layer-by-layer assembly of graphene oxide membranes via electrostatic interaction , 2014 .

[16]  Cheng Xu,et al.  3D Orthogonal Woven Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Effective Biomechanical Energy Harvesting and as Self‐Powered Active Motion Sensors , 2017, Advanced materials.

[17]  Arturo J. Mateos,et al.  Large-Scale Continuous Immersion System for Layer-by-Layer Deposition of Flame Retardant and Conductive Nanocoatings on Fabric , 2014 .

[18]  Zhong Lin Wang,et al.  Self-powered textile for wearable electronics by hybridizing fiber-shaped nanogenerators, solar cells, and supercapacitors , 2016, Science Advances.

[19]  Katsuhiko Ariga,et al.  ASSEMBLY OF MULTICOMPONENT PROTEIN FILMS BY MEANS OF ELECTROSTATIC LAYER-BY-LAYER ADSORPTION , 1995 .

[20]  Haiyang Zou,et al.  A Highly Stretchable and Washable All-Yarn-Based Self-Charging Knitting Power Textile Composed of Fiber Triboelectric Nanogenerators and Supercapacitors. , 2017, ACS nano.

[21]  R. Montazami,et al.  High-contrast solid-state electrochromic devices of viologen-bridged polysilsesquioxane nanoparticles fabricated by layer-by-layer assembly. , 2009, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[22]  Woo Jin Hyun,et al.  Enhanced Sensitivity of Patterned Graphene Strain Sensors Used for Monitoring Subtle Human Body Motions. , 2017, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[23]  O. Park,et al.  High electrical conductivity and oxygen barrier property of polymer-stabilized graphene thin films , 2017 .

[24]  Yu-Chin Li,et al.  Intumescent All‐Polymer Multilayer Nanocoating Capable of Extinguishing Flame on Fabric , 2011, Advanced materials.

[25]  Zhong Lin Wang,et al.  Transparent triboelectric nanogenerators and self-powered pressure sensors based on micropatterned plastic films. , 2012, Nano letters.

[26]  M. Rubner,et al.  Strategies for Hydrogen Bonding Based Layer-by-Layer Assembly of Poly(vinyl alcohol) with Weak Polyacids , 2012 .

[27]  Jong-Hyun Ahn,et al.  Conformal, graphene-based triboelectric nanogenerator for self-powered wearable electronics , 2016 .

[28]  Yang Zou,et al.  Biodegradable triboelectric nanogenerator as a life-time designed implantable power source , 2016, Science Advances.

[29]  Huanan Zhang,et al.  Thermodynamic and structural insights into nanocomposites engineering by comparing two materials assembly techniques for graphene. , 2013, ACS nano.

[30]  Woo Jin Hyun,et al.  Highly stretchable and wearable graphene strain sensors with controllable sensitivity for human motion monitoring. , 2015, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[31]  Katsuhiko Ariga,et al.  Layer-by-layer assembly as a versatile bottom-up nanofabrication technique for exploratory research and realistic application. , 2007, Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP.

[32]  Nannan Zhang,et al.  Progress in triboelectric nanogenerators as self-powered smart sensors , 2017 .

[33]  Weiguo Hu,et al.  Wearable Self‐Charging Power Textile Based on Flexible Yarn Supercapacitors and Fabric Nanogenerators , 2016, Advanced materials.

[34]  Jaime C. Grunlan,et al.  Super Gas Barrier and Selectivity of Graphene Oxide‐Polymer Multilayer Thin Films , 2013, Advanced materials.

[35]  J. Grunlan,et al.  Transparent Clay−Polymer Nano Brick Wall Assemblies with Tailorable Oxygen Barrier , 2010 .

[36]  Xue Wang,et al.  Aligning graphene sheets in PDMS for improving output performance of triboelectric nanogenerator , 2017 .

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

[38]  Shuo Chen,et al.  Layer-by-layer assembly of all carbon nanotube ultrathin films for electrochemical applications. , 2009, Journal of the American Chemical Society.

[39]  Haofei Shi,et al.  Enhancing Performance of Triboelectric Nanogenerator by Filling High Dielectric Nanoparticles into Sponge PDMS Film. , 2016, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[40]  P. Hammond.  Form and Function in Multilayer Assembly: New Applications at the Nanoscale , 2004 .

[41]  K C Krogman,et al.  Industrial-scale spray layer-by-layer assembly for production of biomimetic photonic systems , 2013, Bioinspiration & biomimetics.

[42]  Sung Kyun Kim,et al.  Shape memory polymer-based self-healing triboelectric nanogenerator , 2015 .

[43]  Nicholas A Kotov,et al.  Transparent conductors from layer-by-layer assembled SWNT films: importance of mechanical properties and a new figure of merit. , 2010, ACS nano.

[44]  Shengming Li,et al.  A Flexible Fiber-Based Supercapacitor-Triboelectric-Nanogenerator Power System for Wearable Electronics. , 2015, Advanced materials.

[45]  Xiuli Fu,et al.  Machine‐Washable Textile Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Effective Human Respiratory Monitoring through Loom Weaving of Metallic Yarns , 2016, Advanced materials.

[46]  Zhong Lin Wang,et al.  Progress in triboelectric nanogenerators as a new energy technology and self-powered sensors , 2015 .