The New Strategy of the Gas Sensor Platform through Triboelectric Nanogenerator

In the age of the Internet of Things (IoT), the significance of sensor devices that can operate independently through self-power sources has taken center stage. In this regard, the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), which is gaining attention as a renewable energy source, has been applied as a self-powered gas sensor by coupling it with a gas sensor. However, the existing TENG only serves as a power supplier for the gas sensor's minimal power requirements, making it challenging to apply it as a practical gas sensor while ensuring its continuity. Herein, we report on a self-powered multifunctional hydrogen gas sensor (SPMH-gas sensor) that utilizes a palladium-deposited polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) nanofiber-based membrane as the TENG friction surface, enabling sensing of hydrogen gas. The SPMH-gas sensor detects changes in voltage resulting from the movement of electrons during the conversion of mechanical energy into electrical energy, enabling effective sensing. The highly durable PTFE nanofiber substrate ensures stable sensor detection performance even under mechanical deformation. Moreover, it operates at room temperature and provides feedback on gas leakage through the spontaneously generated electrical energy. The change in output performance of the TENG according to the electron movement variation in the presence of gas exposure brings about expandability to various gases.