Stretchable Energy-Harvesting Tactile Interactive Interface with Liquid-Metal-Nanoparticle-Based Electrodes

Abstract

Energy-harvesting electronic skin (E-skin) is highly promising for sustainable and self-powered interactive systems, wearable human health monitors, and intelligent robotics. Flexible/stretchable electrodes and robust energy-harvesting components are critical in constructing soft, wearable, and energy-autonomous E-skin systems. A stretchable energy-harvesting tactile interactive interface is demonstrated using liquid metal nanoparticles (LM-NPs)-based electrodes. This stretchable energy-harvesting tactile interface relies on triboelectric nanogenerator composed of a galinstan LM-NP-based stretchable electrode and patterned elastic polymer friction and encapsulation layer. It provides stable and high open-circuit voltage (268 V), short-circuit current (12.06 mu A), and transferred charges (103.59 nC), which are sufficient to drive commercial portable electronics. As a self-powered tactile sensor, it presents satisfactory and repeatable sensitivity of 2.52 V center dot kPa(-1) and is capable of working as a touch interactive keyboard. The demonstrated stretchable and robust energy-harvesting E-skin using LM-NP-based electrodes is of great significance in sustainable human-machine interactive system, intelligent robotic skin, security tactile switches, etc.