Water-resistive and wearable triboelectric nanogenerators based on polyurethane/polyester textiles fabricated utilizing a planarization layer

We report a water-resistive and wearable triboelectric nanogenerator on a polyurethane/polyester textile substrate with a planarization layer. The power generation and reliability of the triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) fabricated utilizing a resin planarization layer were significantly enhanced in comparison with those of TENGs without the resin planarization layer. The planarization layer was deposited on the polyurethane/polyester textile substrate by using spin coating and ultraviolet curing to improve its surface properties and polarity. The output voltages and currents of TENGs based on a resin planarization layer on a polyurethane/polyester substrate were measured in the vertical contact-separation mode by using a counter unit containing Al electrodes and a polyimide friction layer. The TENGs exhibited a peak potential of over 30 V, which is about three times larger than that of the devices without such a planarization layer, and the corresponding maximum power density was 3.16 mW/m2. Furthermore, the results of endurance and water resistance tests carried out on the TENGs with a resin planarization layer on a textile substrate showed that such devices were suitable for use in applications in which the device must be worn.