Green and efficient fabrication of high-damping porous films for energy harvesting and self-powered sensing

Abstract

Finding a sustainable and scalable strategy for the fabrication of triboelectric materials with unique damped capabilities to enhance the stability and durability of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) is a challenging task. Here, the styrene–ethylene–butylene–styrene (SEBS) foam with a high-damping property was prepared via the supercritical nitrogen dioxide (scN₂) foaming process, resulting in an 87.5 % reduction in rebound height, 700 % increase in buffering effect, and nearly zero rebound times. A complementary-shaped TENG (CS-TENG) was fabricated using a convex polydimethylsiloxane and concave porous-surface foamed SEBS films, which can be obtained by slicing SEBS foam. The optimized CS-TENG increased the output voltage by 270 % to 310 V and current by 287.5 % to 1.15 μA, enabling it to charge capacitors and power small devices. Moreover, the flexible and robust friction layers of the CS-TENG ensured durability across 40,000 cycles, allowing it to serve as a self-powered sensor for the detection of forces and deformations. For feasibility testing, a self-powered remote-control system with four CS-TENGs was developed for the intellectual development of children and rehabilitation support of the elderly. This work offers new insights into the green fabrication of high-damping triboelectric materials and the development of surface-engineered TENGs with high output and durability.