Hybrid-Structured Electrospun Nanofiber Membranes as Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Self-Powered Wearable Electronics

Abstract

To overcome the application limitation of traditional batteries on wearable electronics, self-powered wearable electronics have been developed rapidly. The nanofiber-based triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) with unique characteristics have attracted much attention, due to their broad application prospects in wearable electronics. Herein, hybrid-structured nanofiber membranes (HNMs) were prepared in batch by a modified free surface electrospinning (MFSE), which were composed of thermoplastic polyurethane/carbon black (TPU/CB) beaded nanofibers and poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) nanofibers. The interaction between TPU/CB beaded nanofibers and P(VDF-TrFE) nanofibers in HNMs could effectively inhibit the delamination of P(VDF-TrFE) nanofibers. Thus, the prepared HNMs as the negative friction layer of TENGs could effectively increase the surface roughness, thus exhibiting better output performance and durability of TENGs. Moreover, the HNMs had stretchability and hydrophobicity, enabling the creation of durable wearable electronics that convert mechanical energy generated by different human movements into electrical energy. In addition, polylactic acid/chitosan/aloin (PCA) porous nanofiber membranes (PNMs) with biocompatibility and positron affinity were used as the positive friction of TENGs. The fabricated TENGs can be used to charge various capacitors, detect human motion, and power small electronic devices.