Summary:
Currently, there is an increasing need for low-cost detectors that can measure ground motion with high sensitivity and selectivity. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have arisen as low-cost self-powering sensing devices that can be used in multiple applications that involve vibration and motion, such as in earthquake detection. In this work, a TENG-based seismic device (SEISTENG) is designed with the purpose of detecting either 2D or 3D vibrating motion. This device is based on low-cost TENGs and comprises the walls of a 3D-printed polylactic acid box with a sliding metal ball inside and rolling on its horizontal base. The TENG transducer dynamical properties for a high-frequency range (0.5–50 Hz), long duration operation, and robustness were measured. The SEISTENG was validated by simulating the 1995 Kobe earthquake on a biaxial vibration table and the 2011 Lorca earthquake on a triaxial system, demonstrating its ability to detect seismic excitation signals with high accuracy (2D or 3D SEISTENG). The technology produced a response comparable to that of the commercial piezoelectric sensor D220-A4BR-1305YB, and its signals could be monitored remotely in real time using an FPGA-based STEMlab board, a LabVIEW interface, and Internet of things (IoT) platforms.
Keywords: Layers, Nanogenerators, Oscillation, Power, Sensors
JCR-JIF Impact Factor and WoS quartile: 5,200 - Q2 (2025)
DOI reference:
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.6c00458
Published on paper: June 2026.
Published on-line: June 2026.
Citation:
J. Sánchez Del Río Sáez, A. Vázquez-López, J.E. Pozo Benavides, A. López Laguna, M. Andolfi, R. Cascón Porres, F. Santos Olalla, S. Paramio, Y. Ballesteros, C. Cruz-De la Torre, V. Martínez, J.L. Jiménez, J.B. Bravo Monge, X. Ao, D.Y. Wang, "A Robust Self-Powered Triboelectric Sensor for Risk Mitigation in Seismic Scenarios: IoT Communication and Dimensional Monitoring", ACS Omega, Vol. 11, nº. 24, pp. 35357 - 35374, June 2026. [Online: June 2026] doi: 10.1021/acsomega.6c00458
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