Dual-Mode Self-Powered Rainfall Sensor Based on Interfacial-Polarization-Enhanced and Nanocapacitor-Embedded FCB@PDMS Composite Film

The uneven time-space distribution of rainfall can easily induce droughts and floods disasters. Meteorological sensor based on battery supply plays an important role to monitor and warn rainfall intensity, however it is limited by the frequent replacement of battery. In this paper, a dual mode self-powered rainfall sensor (DSR-Sensor) based on hybrid enhanced triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is first proposed. The DSR-Sensor is fabricated with frictional layer of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and the electrode layer of Cu. These layers are assembled into TENG composed of single electrode mode and contact separation mode. To increase the specific surface, the surface of PDMS film is modified by microimprint process. To accumulate more induced charges, the film is further doped with nanoparticles of fluorinated carbon black based on the effect of nanocapacitor interface polarization. The measured rainfall intensity ranges from 0.1 to 12 mm min(-1), which has obvious advantage compared with the ordinary commercial sensor. The sensitivity and linearity are 5.5237 V mm min(-1) and 0.9692, respectively. Also, the electrical output performances keep well in multiple tests of continuous 600 s within one month, which shows excellent stability. These results suggest great realistic potential of the self-powered DSR-Sensor in the field of meteorological environment monitoring.

Automated summary

This paper proposes a new self-powered dual mode rainfall sensor based on hybrid enhanced triboelectric nanogenerator. The sensor, fabricated with frictional layer and electrode layer, shows high sensitivity and linearity in measuring rainfall intensity. Its electrical output performance remains stable in multiple tests. These results suggest promising applications of the sensor in meteorological environment monitoring.