Biocompatible Poly(lactic acid)‐Based Hybrid Piezoelectric and Electret Nanogenerator for Electronic Skin Applications

Abstract Human machine interface (HMI) devices, which can convert human motions to electrical signals to control/charge electronic devices, have attracted tremendous attention from the engineering and science fields. Herein, the high output voltage from a nonpiezoelectric meso ‐poly(lactic acid) ( meso ‐PLA) electret‐based triboelectric nanogenerator (NG) is combined with the relatively high current from a double‐layered poly( l ‐lactic acid) (PLLA)‐based piezoelectric nanogenerator (PENG) for an E‐skin (electronic skin) (HMI) device application. The hybrid NG with a cantilever structure can generate an output voltage of 70 V and a current of 25 µA at the resonance frequency of 19.7 Hz and a tip load of 4.71 g. Moreover, the output power of the hybrid NG reaches 0.31 mW, which is 11% higher than that from the PLLA‐based PENG. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the PLA‐based hybrid NG can be used to turn a light‐emitting diode light on and off through an energy management circuit during a bending test. Finally, it is demonstrated that the PLA‐based woven E‐skin device can generate the output signals of 35 V ( V oc ) and 1 µA ( I sc ) during an elbow bending test. The advantages of biocompatible, ease of fabrication, and relatively high output power in the hybrid NG device show great promise for future E‐skin applications.