Gas-Mask-Integrated Multi-Sheet Flutter Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Self-Powered Emergency Response System

Gas masks are crucial personal protective equipment used in hazardous environments, and gas-mask wearers should always be prepared for emergencies to ensure better safety and survival. Considering that sudden or long-term emergencies can occur at any time, a self-powered gas-mask system must be established for a continuous power supply to emergency-related electronics or for reliable self-powered sensing. Nevertheless, a comprehensive analysis and the demonstration of a gas-mask-integration design that considers breathing resistance, electrical output generation, and practical application together remain challenging. This study developed a gas-mask-canister-integrated inhalation-driven multi-sheet flutter triboelectric generator (MF-TEG) and ultimately realized a self-powered emergency response gas-mask-system (S-ERG) for the first time. The MF-TEG was mechanically and electrically analyzed and optimized for various design variables based on the average peak voltage and root mean square output measurements. A gas-mask canister with the MF-TEG produced a stable electrical output (62 V, 500 Hz) for every inhalation, and its inhalation resistance was 7 % lower than the permissible level, although the canister was compact. Personal environmental monitoring and wireless location tracking were achieved with the S-ERG in the charging mode successfully using high-capacitance capacitors and commercial electronics. A self-powered chemical warfare agent (CWA) sensing mechanism was developed and analyzed for various relevant variables based on peak voltage, output response, and electrical resistance measurements. A real-time personal CWA alert system was realized with the S-ERG in the sensing mode, equipped with a signal-processing unit, via LED illumination.