Wearable and robust triboelectric nanogenerator based on crumpled gold films

The internet of things (IoT) and sensor networks will dramatically improve our daily life due to the rapid growth of portable and wearable electronics. Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is a promising energy harvester to power these electronics. However, high output performance and low cost TENGs still remain one of the most crucial barriers for practical applications. In this work, we reported a flexible TENG based on crumpled gold films. By introducing crumpled morphology onto the gold thin film using macrocontrol, the TENG delivered a maximum voltage of 124.6 V, a maximum current of 10.13 μA and maximum power density of 0.22 mW/cm². Importantly, the output performance was quite stable, with no obvious degradation after 6-month storage in ambient environment due to the reliability of Au films. This simple, low-cost and controllable surface modification method is promising for the development of smaller devices for future wearable and self-powered electronics and optoelectronics applications.