Fast-Response and Flexible Triboelectric Pressure Sensors with Hierarchical Triple-Scale Structure for Wireless Smart Seat Detection

Abstract

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) are crucial for sustainable energy and Internet of Things (IoT) applications due to their ability to harvest energy and function as self-powered pressure sensors. However, simultaneously achieving high sensitivity, broad pressure detection range, and fast response through simple, low-cost fabrication remains a significant challenge. Herein, a pressure-sensing TENG (PS-TENG) based on porous hemispherical protrusion microstructured polydimethylsiloxane (PHP-PDMS) film is developed. The PHP-PDMS surface—comprising uniformly distributed pores, periodic hemispherical arrays, and irregular nanoscale protrusion—enhances specific surface area and reduces elastic modulus. As a result, the PS-TENG achieves high sensitivity (0.87 V kPa⁻¹), a broad pressure detection range (0.02–53.3 kPa), fast response (16.6 ms), and excellent long-term stability, making it suitable for sustainable self-powered sensing applications. Finite element simulations reveal that larger microstructure sizes and sparser spatial distributions lead to greater deformation, thereby increasing contact area and enhancing charge transfer. These findings align well with experimental results and provide valuable insights for the structural optimization. The PS-TENG's energy harvesting capability is validated by powering light-emitting diodes and a digital hygrothermometer. When integrated with IoT technology, it enables a wireless smart seat detection system for real-time seat occupancy monitoring and public resource management.