title: Triboelectric sensor as self-powered signal reader for scanning probe surface topography imaging.
abstract: We report a self-powered signal reading mechanism for imaging surface topography using a triboelectric sensor (TES) without supplying an external power or light source. A membrane-structured triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is designed at the root of a whisker (probe); the deflection of the whisker causes the two contacting surfaces of the TENG to give an electric output current/voltage that responds to the bending degree of the whisker when it scans over a rough surface. A series of studies were carried out to characterize the performance of the TES, such as high sensitivity of 0.45 V mm(-1), favorable repeating of standard deviation 8 mV, high Z-direction resolution of 18 μm, as well as lateral resolution of 250 μm by using a probe of size 11 mm in the length and 120 μm in radius. It not only can recognize the surface feature and size but also can perform a surface topography imaging in scanning mode. This work shows the potential of a TES as a self-powered tactile sensor for applications at relatively low spatial resolution.
authors.affiliation: Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Aifang
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Libo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiangyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Aihua
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Fengru
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.forename: Zhong Lin
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Wang