Piezoelectric-Triboelectric Coupling Enhanced Hybrid Nanogenerator for Flexible Motion Sensing

The sensing application of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) has received wide attention, and the output characteristics are mainly determined by the surface charge density (σ); however, it is still a huge challenge to improve their performance through an effective strategy. Herein, we reported a multilayered structure coupling piezoelectric and triboelectric effects by integrating a polarized BaTiO3/PVDF nanocomposite film as a piezoelectric layer into the TENG structure. Additionally, the surface polarization of the triboelectric layer acts as a negative charge trap, further coupling and enhancing transferred charges. This nanogenerator improves the surface charge density and charge transfer efficiency under the synergistic effects of interfacial polarization and electric field coupling. Compared with the output voltage of a single TENG structure, an increase of 282.7% is observed, and a pressure sensitivity of 1.072 V kPa–1 can be achieved. The markedly enhanced output performance is quite stable and reliable in harsh mechanical environments due to the high flexibility of the films. This strategy exhibits promising potential for developing practical, flexible energy harvesting and sensor monitoring devices.