Martian‑Regolith Simulant Confined Nanogenerators for Wireless Tactile Sensing for Human‐Machine Interface

ABSTRACT

Achieving a sustainable energy system for space missions remains challenging due to the continued reliance on Earth‐supplied materials. This underscores the importance of in situ resource utilization (ISRU) strategies that convert planetary resources into functional electronic components. In this work, we harness the dielectric characteristics of Martian regolith (MR) simulant to create an MR/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite film with enhanced triboelectric properties. Structural and morphological analyses of the MR reveal multiple oxide‐rich phases, which improve both the dielectric properties and the surface microstructure of the MR/PDMS composite film. The resultant MR/PDMS composite film‐based triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) delivers an approximately two‐fold increase in open‐circuit voltage compared to the pristine PDMS‐based TENG. The real‐world use of the MR/PDMS TENG is further demonstrated by proof‐of‐concept applications: a glove‐mounted tactile surface sensor with wireless signal transmission and a wearable triboelectric keypad. This work not only showcases advances in MR‐based TENG performance but also marks the first demonstration of triboelectric applications using MR simulants as functional triboelectric material. Additionally, we have demonstrated foundational work toward ISRU‐oriented tactile interfaces incorporating MR‐simulant‐derived functional materials for future controlled habitats and robotic platforms relevant to future space exploration.