Vitrimer Elastomer-Based Jigsaw Puzzle-Like Healable Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Self-Powered Wearable Electronics

Abstract

Functional polymers possess outstanding uniqueness in fabricating intelligent devices such as sensors and actuators, but they are rarely used for converting mechanical energy into electric power. Here, a vitrimer based triboelectric nanogenerator (VTENG) is developed by embedding a layer of silver nanowire percolation network in a dynamic disulfide bond-based vitrimer elastomer. In virtue of covalent dynamic disulfide bonds in the elastomer matrix, a thermal stimulus enables in situ healing if broken, on demand reconfiguration of shape, and assembly of more sophisticated structures of VTENG devices. On rupture or external damage, the structural integrity and conductivity of VTENG are restored under rapid thermal stimulus. The flexible and stretchable VTENG can be scaled up akin to jigsaw puzzles and transformed from 2D to 3D structures. It is demonstrated that this self-healable and shape-adaptive VTENG can be utilized for mechanical energy harvesters and self-powered tactile/pressure sensors with extended lifetime and excellent design flexibility. These results show that the incorporation of organic materials into electronic devices can not only bestow functional properties but also provide new routes for flexible device fabrication.

A flexible and self-healable triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is achieved by combining a vitrimer elastomer and a silver nanowire network. By introducing terrace structure, scaling up TENGs can be as easy as playing jigsaw puzzles, which also provides a new fabrication route for flexible devices. The output performance also increases correspondingly when the number of assembly pieces is increased.

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