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

Abstract Triboelectric 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 (TiO 2 ) 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.