A high output triboelectric nanogenerator based on 2D boron nitride nanosheet–PVP composite ink and electrospun cellulose acetate nanofibers for kinetic energy harvesting and self-powered tactile sensing applications†

Abstract

The development of intelligent systems integrated with high-sensitivity sensors is critical for next-generation electronic applications. Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG)-based tactile sensors offer a promising solution by converting mechanical stimuli directly into electrical signals, making them ideal for wearable electronics, robotics, and prosthetics. In this work, we present a self-powered tactile sensor fabricated using two complementary triboelectric materials: screen-printed boron nitride nanosheet (BNNS) composite ink printed on a polymer substrate and electrospun cellulose acetate (ES-CA) nanofibers. Structural modification of the BN–PVP/ES-CA TENG resulted in a significantly enhanced performance, delivering an output voltage of 1200 V, a short-circuit current density of 1.2 mA m⁻², and a power density of 1.4 W m⁻². The sensor effectively detects low-magnitude forces even up to 0.05 N, exhibiting a sensitivity of 3.98 V N⁻¹ for forces <2 N and 1.843 V N⁻¹ for forces between 2 and 10 N, demonstrating its potential in high-resolution tactile sensing for advanced robotic and prosthetic applications.