Preparation of a high-performance chitosan-based triboelectric nanogenerator by regulating the surface microstructure and dielectric constant

Abstract

The rapid development of electronic technology has put forward increased requirements to find more suitable energy sources. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have achieved widespread success in converting ambient mechanical energy into electric power. However, it remains challenging to improve the output performance of sustainable material-based TENGs for extensive applications. Herein, a method of combining micro surface construction and dielectric constant control was developed to enhance the output performance of chitosan (CS)-based TENGs. The introduction of conductive filler Ag nanowires (AgNWs) significantly enhanced the dielectric constant of the CS composite film. Duplication of the microstructure using sandpaper increased the effective contact surface. With optimized AgNW content and surface roughness, an open-circuit voltage of 47.9 V, short-circuit current of 4.1 μA, and transfer charge of 17.5 nC were obtained, corresponding to a peak power density of 137.6 mW m⁻². The generated output power was capable of remaining stable over 10 000 cycles and charging capacitors to drive light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The composite films had good flexibility and could be easily twisted, bent and folded, enabling the device to attach to multiple parts of the human body (elbows, palms, feet) and harvest the mechanical energy of human motion. This work indicates the potential scope of CS in the practical application of TENGs and demonstrates a promising method for exploring environmentally friendly energy harvesters with high performance.