Wearable biosensors for real-time sweat analysis and body motion capture based on stretchable fiber-based triboelectric nanogenerators

Carbon neutrality is a global green energy revolution meaning that the carbon dioxide can make ends meet. However, with the mushroom of the fifth generation wireless systems (5G) and the Internet of Things (IoT), it is a great challenge for powering the ubiquitous distributed devices, because the battery production and high overhead maintenance may bring more carbon emissions. Here, we present wearable biosensors for real-time sweat analysis and body motion capture based on stretchable fiber-based triboelectric nanogenerators (F-TENG). The F-TENG is made of stretchable conductive fiber (Ecoflex coating with polyaniline (PANI)) and varnished wires. Based on the coupling effect of triboelectric effect and enzymatic reaction (surface-triboelectric coupling effect), the wearable biosensors can not only precisely sense the motion states, but also detect glucose, creatinine and lactate acid in sweat in real-time. Importantly, the wearable devices can self-drive without any external power source and the response against glucose, creatinine and lactate acid can be up to 103%, 125% and 38%, respectively. On this basis, applications in biosensing and wireless communication have been demonstrated. This work exhibits a prospective potential application of F-TENG in IoT for diverse use. •A fiber-based stretchable triboelectric nanogenerator has been presented.•The wearable device can detect body motion state without any external power supplies.•The wearable device can work as a biosensor for sensing glucose, creatinine and lactate acid after modifying with enzymes.•The wearable device driven only by body motion can realize wireless communication.