Self-powered electronic paper with energy supplies and information inputs solely from mechanical motions

The electronic paper (E-paper) displays features such as flexibility, sunlight visibility, and low power consumption, which makes it ideal for Internet of Things (IoT) applications where the goal is to eliminate bulky power modules. Here, we report a unique self-powered E-paper (SPEP), where information inputs and energy supplies are all converted from mechanical motion by a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). The operation of an electrophoretic E-paper is first investigated, identifying the current density as a determinative parameter for driving pigment particle motion and color change. Electrical and optical responses of the E-paper driven by a sliding-mode TENG are then found to be consistent with that under a current source mode. All-in-one monochromic and chromatic SPEPs integrated with a flexible transparent TENG are finally demonstrated, and a pixelated SPEP is discussed for future research. The sliding-driven mechanism of SPEP allows for a potential handwriting function, is free of an extra power supply, and promises undoubtedly a wide range of future applications.