Researchers at the University of Alabama in Huntsville have designed a wearable biosensor that offers a new way to measure human muscle activation to potentially prevent injuries and enhance athletic performance. The design is built around a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), a device that converts mechanical or thermal energy into electricity for wearable electronics that will cost less to manufacture than traditional nanotechnology. The breakthrough is detailed in a paper published in the “Journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry,” coauthored by Dr. Gang Wang, an associate professor in the College of Engineering. “Our novel wearable triboelectric biosensor design consists of Scotch tape and a metalized polyester sheet. When it is pressed and released, we are able to detect human motions involving the elbow, knee, finger, eye, and jaw. The design is an advance because it is self-powerful, light-weight, low-cost, and disposable.”