High power triboelectric nanogenerator based on nanofibers of silk protein and PVBVA and its motion sensing applications

Rapid expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT)-based healthcare and biomedical research has surged the demand for versatile electronics with seamless human-machine interfaces. However, chemical batteries hinder interfacing with the human body, and this limitation can be mitigated by using self-powered devices. Here, we introduce a novel strategy to develop a high-power and protein-based triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) suitable for self-powered human-machine interfacial applications in daily life. The TENG consists of electrospun PEO-Silk nanofibers (PEO-Silk-NFs) and poly(vinyl butyral-co-vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl acetate) nanofibers (PVBVA-NFs). Owing to large surface areas and electrical affinity differences between the two NFs, a high TENG performance with an open-circuit voltage (Voc) of - 2.1 kV, a short-circuit current (Isc) of - 6.5 mu A, and an impressive power density of - 196 mW/cm2 are obtained. The PVBVA-NF/PEO-Silk-NF TENG is highly sensitive to impact forces and thus allows effective and continuous monitoring of body joint movements. Additionally, the PVBVA-NF/PEO-Silk-NF TENG is water-resistant, completely recyclable, and wearable, which make it an excellent option for future IoT applications. Our research paves the way for high-voltage output and motionsensing solutions for the next phase of wearable electronics based on self-powered and sustainable technology.