High-performance wearable triboelectric sensor for health monitoring and injury prevention in basketball

Self-powered wearable sensors are highly desirable for real-time sports motion monitoring because they can convert biomechanical activities into electrical signals without relying on external power supplies. Here, a CNF-MPyP-SSC ionic hydrogel was integrated as a compliant charge-collecting electrode in a polytetrafluoroethylene/polyethylene terephthalate vertical contact–separation triboelectric nanogenerator (C-TENG). The device links hydrogel-electrode-enabled output enhancement with multilevel basketball-motion monitoring, covering both angle-dependent joint bending and characteristic electrical waveforms generated during dribbling, ball-carrying locomotion, and jump shooting. Owing to the mechanical adaptability, ionic conductivity, and stable charge-transport capability of the hydrogel electrode, the device exhibited efficient electromechanical conversion and reliable sensing performance. The assembled triboelectric nanogenerator delivered an open-circuit voltage (VOC) of ∼187.5 V, a short-circuit current (ISC) of ~13.1 μA, a transferred charge (QSC) of ~72.5 nC, and a maximum output power of 1.3 mW. It also showed stable frequency response, force-dependent output behavior, capacitor-charging capability, and long-term operational stability. As a wearable self-powered sensor, the device generated distinguishable voltage signals during finger, wrist, elbow, and knee bending at different angles. Furthermore, characteristic current and voltage waveforms enabled the identification of representative basketball movement phases, including ball dribbling, ball-carrying locomotion, and jump shooting. This study demonstrates a flexible C-TENG for self-powered basketball motion monitoring and provides a promising strategy for intelligent sports training, human motion analysis, and wearable health management.