Microsphere-Assisted Robust Epidermal Strain Gauge for Static and Dynamic Gesture Recognition.

A novel and robust epidermal strain gauge by using 3D microsphere arrays to immobilize, connect, and protect a multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) pathway is presented. During the solvent deposition process, MWNTs sedimentate, self-assemble, and wrap onto surface of polystyrene (PS) microspheres to construct conductive networks, which further obtain excellent stretchability of 100% by combining with commercially used elastomer. Benefiting from its 3D conductive pathway defined by microspheres, immobilized MWNT (I-MWNT) network can be directly used in practical occasions without further packaging and is proved by tape tests to be capable of defend mechanical damage effectively from external environment. By parameter optimization, the strain sensor with 3 µm PS spheres obtains stable resistive responses for more than 1000 times, and maintains its gauge factor (GF) of 1.35. This thin-film conductive membrane built by this effective construction method can be easily attached onto fingers of both robot and human, and is demonstrated in sensitive epidermal strain sensing and recognizing different hand gestures effectively, in static and dynamic modes, respectively.

Highly Compressible Integrated Supercapacitor-Piezoresistance-Sensor System with CNT-PDMS Sponge for Health Monitoring.

Rapid improvement of wearable electronics stimulates the demands for the matched functional devices and energy storage devices. Meanwhile, wearable microsystem requires every parts possessing high compressibility to accommodate large-scale mechanical deformations and complex conditions. In this work, a general carbon nanotube-polydimethylsiloxane (CNT-PDMS) sponge electrode is fabricated as the elementary component of the compressible system. CNT-PDMS sponge performs high sensitivity as a piezoresistance sensor, which is capable of detecting stress repeatedly and owns great electrochemical performance as a compressible supercapacitor which maintains stably under compressive strains, respectively. Assembled with the piezoresistance sensor and the compressible supercapacitor, such highly compressible integrated system can power and modulate the low-power electronic devices reliably. More importantly, attached to the epidermal skin or clothes, it can detect human motions, ranging from speech recognition to breathing record, thus showing feasibility in real-time health monitor and human-machine interfaces.

A wave-shaped hybrid piezoelectric and triboelectric nanogenerator based on P(VDF-TrFE) nanofibers.

A wave-shaped hybrid nanogenerator (NG) with mutually enhanced piezoelectric and triboelectric output is presented in this work. By sandwiching piezoelectric P(VDF-TrFE) nanofibers between wave-shaped Kapton films, the device forms a three-layer structure, which can generate piezoelectric and triboelectric outputs simultaneously in one press and release cycle. Through systematic situational analysis and experimental validation, the three-layer structure can achieve obvious improvement of the output performance for both parts. When triggered with 4 Hz external force, the piezoelectric part generates a peak output and current of 96 V and 3.8 µA, which is ∼2 times higher than its initial output. Meanwhile, the performance of triboelectric parts also increases 8 V and 16 V with the assistance of piezoelectric potential. The enhanced high output enables the hybrid nanogenerator to instantaneously light up LEDs and charges capacitors quickly, which shows extensive application prospects in the field of self-powered systems or sensor networks.

Controlled fabrication of nanoscale wrinkle structure by fluorocarbon plasma for highly transparent triboelectric nanogenerator.

In this paper, we report a novel nanoscale wrinkle-structure fabrication process using fluorocarbon plasma on poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and Solaris membranes. Wrinkles with wavelengths of hundreds of nanometers were obtained on these two materials, showing that the fabrication process was universally applicable. By varying the plasma-treating time, the wavelength of the wrinkle structure could be controlled. Highly transparent membranes with wrinkle patterns were obtained when the plasma-treating time was <125 s. The transmittances of these membranes were >90% in the visible region, making it difficult to distinguish them from a flat membrane. The deposited fluorocarbon polymer also dramatically reduced the surface energy, which allowed us to replicate the wrinkle pattern with high precision onto other membranes without any surfactant coating. The combined advantages of high electron affinity and high transparency enabled the fabricated membrane to improve the performance of a triboelectric nanogenerator. This nanoscale, single-step, and universal wrinkle-pattern fabrication process, with the functionality of high transparency and ultra-low surface energy, shows an attractive potential for future applications in micro- and nanodevices, especially in transparent energy harvesters.

High performance triboelectric nanogenerators with aligned carbon nanotubes.

As the essential element of a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), friction layers play key roles that determine the device performance, which can be enhanced by material selection and surface modification. In this work, we have embedded aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surface as the effective dielectric layer to donate electrons. This layer not only increases the electron generation for the output, but also shows notable stretchability. The length and the properties of the aligned CNTs can be controlled precisely. Using the 40 µm CNT as an example, the fabricated CNT-PDMS TENG shows an output voltage of 150 V and a current density of 60 mA m-2, which are 250% and 300% enhancement compared to the TENG using directly doped PDMS/multiwall carbon nanotubes, respectively. The maximum power density of this TENG reaches 4.62 W m-2 at an external load of 30 MΩ. The TENG has demonstrated superior stability during cyclic measurement of over 12 000 cycles. Besides, the aligned CNT-PDMS film shows superhydrophobicity (154°) and good sheet resistance of 280 Ω sq-1. This stretchable aligned CNT-PDMS film can be universally utilized as a positive triboelectric layer pairing with polymeric materials such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyimide, PDMS and polytetrafluoroethylene for TENGs. This work provides an effective method of structure design for flexible and stretchable nanogenerators.

Self-Powered Analogue Smart Skin.

The progress of smart skin technology presents unprecedented opportunities for artificial intelligence. Resolution enhancement and energy conservation are critical to improve the perception and standby time of robots. Here, we present a self-powered analogue smart skin for detecting contact location and velocity of the object, based on a single-electrode contact electrification effect and planar electrostatic induction. Using an analogue localizing method, the resolution of this two-dimensional smart skin can be achieved at 1.9 mm with only four terminals, which notably decreases the terminal number of smart skins. The sensitivity of this smart skin is remarkable, which can even perceive the perturbation of a honey bee. Meanwhile, benefiting from the triboelectric mechanism, extra power supply is unnecessary for this smart skin. Therefore, it solves the problems of batteries and connecting wires for smart skins. With microstructured poly(dimethylsiloxane) films and silver nanowire electrodes, it can be covered on the skin with transparency, flexibility, and high sensitivity.

Single-Step Fluorocarbon Plasma Treatment-Induced Wrinkle Structure for High-Performance Triboelectric Nanogenerator.

A triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has been thought to be a promising method to harvest energy from environment. To date, the utilization of surface structure and material modification has been considered the most effective way to increase its performance. In this work, a wrinkle structure based high-performance TENG is presented. Using the fluorocarbon plasma treatment method, material modification and surface structure are introduced in one step. The output ability of TENG is dramatically enhanced. After the optimization of plasma treatment, the maximum current and surface charge density are 182 µA about 165 µC m(-2). Compared with untreated TENG, the wrinkle structure makes the current and surface charge density increase by 810% and 528%, separately. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is employed to analyze the chemical modification mechanism of this fluorocarbon plasma treatment. Facilitated by its high output performance, this device could directly light 76 blue light emitting diodes under finger typing. The output electric energy could be stored then utilized to power a commercial calculator. As a result of the simple fabrication process and high output ability, devices fabricated using this method could bring forward practical applications using TENGs as power sources.

[Structure and dynamics of Taxus chinensis var. mairei clonal population].

Structure and dynamics of Taxus chinensis var. mairei clonal population were studied. The results showed that according to the life history of Taxus chinensis var. mairei, the modular population could be divided into 6 classes. The development of Taxus chinensis var. mairei population was greatly depended on its ramets, which sprouted on its stem, and the population size structure was stable. The survival curve of Taxus chinensis var. mairei population showed a revered 'J' type. To expanding and continuing the population, there were high ramet sprouting rate and the resource limit induced a higher seedling and sapling mortality rate. When sapling grew up as young tree, its adventitious root stretched into soil to assimilate the nutrient and water, and it became independence individual. Before germination, the seed of Taxus need to dormant for more than one year, and the bird and beast liked to eat the seed, so it was hard to find seedling and sapling from seed. Therefore Taxus chinesis var. mairei had been considered to be a decline or none descendant population. In this study, it was found that Taxus chinensis var. mairei had a powerful asexual multiplication in Yuanbaoshan, especially ramet sprouting on stem. It was depend on this way to develop and expand the population.