Self-Powered Pedometer Based on Triboelectric Nanogenerator

A self-powered pedometer based on triboelectric nanogenerator is designed and presented. The sensor is composed of accessible and low-cost materials such as Al, Cu, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and Kapton. The output voltage of the sensor can reach 11 V and 40 V when the subject with the sensor goes for a walk or run, respectively. Finite element methods is used to calculate the potential distribution of the sensor via COMSOL, and the simulation results correspond well with the experiment results. The electrical signal has good stability and repeatability. The pace frequency distribution can be precisely obtain via the frequency-domain analysis of signal character. This sensor has the potential applications in the next generation pedometer with low power consumption or even self-powered ability. This will play a unique role in the fields of health care and smart wearable electronics.