A Flexible Self‐Powered Adhesive Force Sensor Enhanced with a Viscous Pressure‐Sensitive Adhesive

AbstractTriboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), self ‐ powered devices with a simple structure and high energy conversion efficiency, have gained much attention in recent year. This paper presents a new flexible, high ‐ output, low ‐ cost and self ‐ powered triboelectric adhesive force sensor. Various methods are employed to enhance TENG output. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), with high electronegativity and biocompatibility, is the negative triboelectric layer. PDMS‐laden titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles are used to strengthen its electrostatic induction. An insulation layer on the electrodes stopped electron leakage. For the first time, a pressure ‐ sensitive adhesive is used as the positive triboelectric layer to improve contact electrification. It can fill gaps between contact layers, increasing the contact area and output. The 1 mm thick PTP ‐ PDMS/PSA sensor exhibits an open ‐ circuit peak voltage of 80 V under an applied force of 12 N at 5 Hz, 3.2 times higher than pure PDMS/Al pair, twice that of doped PDMS/Al pair, and 14% higher than PTP‐PDMS/Al pair. Through surface patterning and thickness optimization, the PTP‐PDMS achieves an open‐circuit peak voltage of up to 190 V. This study offers a new practical strategy to enhance performance of TENGs.