A flexible, highly sensitivity and wideband width response non-contact triboelectric nanogenerator for online vibration monitoring

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have attracted much attention as a promising energy harvesting and self-powered sensing method. In this study, we developed a flexible, highly sensitive and wideband wide response non-contact TENG for on-line vibration detection. FEP and PI have excellent charge transfer capacity, charge adsorption capacity and chemical stability, so we chose them as the friction layer for assembling the TENG. The contactless TENG demonstrates excellent flexibility and stability, so it can be applied as a shape adaptive device to uneven device surfaces. The response sensitivity at different distances is studied. When the distance between two friction layers is increased at fixed vibration frequency, the response sensitivity is 2.586 Vmm ^-1 for 1 mm-1.1 mm, 1.201 Vmm ^-1 for 1.1 mm-2 mm, and 0.306 Vmm ^-1 for 2 mm-3 mm respectively. In addition, we can detect vibration signals of different frequencies (1 Hz-400 Hz) without contact. Therefore, the fault information of non-planar mechanical equipment can be collected in a lossless state. Finally, the TENG is applied to the on-line vibration monitoring of the equipment in working state. This work demonstrates the TENG's potential for non-contact and non-destructive detection of mechanical devices with irregular surfaces.