Functionalized Thermoplastic Polyurethane Nanofibers: An Innovative Triboelectric Energy Generator
A triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is one of the most significantly innovative microdevices for built-in energy harvesting with wearable and portable electronics. In this study, the forcespinning technology was used to synthesize a nanofiber (NF) mat-based TENG. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) memb...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Electronic Materials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-3978/4/4/14 |
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| author | Julia Isidora Salas Diego de Leon Sk Shamim Hasan Abir M. Jasim Uddin Karen Lozano |
| author_facet | Julia Isidora Salas Diego de Leon Sk Shamim Hasan Abir M. Jasim Uddin Karen Lozano |
| author_sort | Julia Isidora Salas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is one of the most significantly innovative microdevices for built-in energy harvesting with wearable and portable electronics. In this study, the forcespinning technology was used to synthesize a nanofiber (NF) mat-based TENG. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane was used as the negative triboelectric electrode/pole, and chemically designed and functionalized thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) was used as the positive electrode/pole for the TENG. The electronic interference, sensitivity, and gate voltage of the synthesized microdevices were investigated using chemically modified bridging of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) with a TPU polymer repeating unit and bare TPU-based positive electrodes. The chemical functionality of TPU NF was integrated during the NF preparation step. The morphological features and the chemical structure of the nanofibers were characterized using a field emission scanning electron microscope and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The electrical output of the fabricated MWCNT-TPU/PVDF TENG yielded a maximum of 212 V in open circuit and 70 µA in short circuit at 240 beats per minute, which proved to be 79% and 15% higher than the TPU/PDVF triboelectric nanogenerator with an electronic contact area of 3.8 × 3.8 cm<sup>2</sup>, which indicates that MWCNT enhanced the electron transportation facility, which results in significantly enhanced performance of the TENG. This device was further tested for its charging capacity and sensory performance by taking data from different body parts, e.g., the chest, arms, feet, hands, etc. These results show an impending prospect and versatility of the chemically functionalized materials for next-generation applications in sensing and everyday energy harvesting technology. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:50:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e348a6889a824f5d956189f88489b471 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-3978 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:50:13Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Electronic Materials |
| spelling | doaj.art-e348a6889a824f5d956189f88489b4712023-12-22T14:04:46ZengMDPI AGElectronic Materials2673-39782023-12-014415816710.3390/electronicmat4040014Functionalized Thermoplastic Polyurethane Nanofibers: An Innovative Triboelectric Energy GeneratorJulia Isidora Salas0Diego de Leon1Sk Shamim Hasan Abir2M. Jasim Uddin3Karen Lozano4Photonics and Energy Research Laboratory, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX 78539, USAPhotonics and Energy Research Laboratory, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX 78539, USAPhotonics and Energy Research Laboratory, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX 78539, USAPhotonics and Energy Research Laboratory, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX 78539, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX 78539, USAA triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is one of the most significantly innovative microdevices for built-in energy harvesting with wearable and portable electronics. In this study, the forcespinning technology was used to synthesize a nanofiber (NF) mat-based TENG. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane was used as the negative triboelectric electrode/pole, and chemically designed and functionalized thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) was used as the positive electrode/pole for the TENG. The electronic interference, sensitivity, and gate voltage of the synthesized microdevices were investigated using chemically modified bridging of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) with a TPU polymer repeating unit and bare TPU-based positive electrodes. The chemical functionality of TPU NF was integrated during the NF preparation step. The morphological features and the chemical structure of the nanofibers were characterized using a field emission scanning electron microscope and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The electrical output of the fabricated MWCNT-TPU/PVDF TENG yielded a maximum of 212 V in open circuit and 70 µA in short circuit at 240 beats per minute, which proved to be 79% and 15% higher than the TPU/PDVF triboelectric nanogenerator with an electronic contact area of 3.8 × 3.8 cm<sup>2</sup>, which indicates that MWCNT enhanced the electron transportation facility, which results in significantly enhanced performance of the TENG. This device was further tested for its charging capacity and sensory performance by taking data from different body parts, e.g., the chest, arms, feet, hands, etc. These results show an impending prospect and versatility of the chemically functionalized materials for next-generation applications in sensing and everyday energy harvesting technology.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-3978/4/4/14functionalized thermoplastic polyurethaneforcespinningmultiwall carbon nanotubestriboelectric nanogenerator |
| spellingShingle | Julia Isidora Salas Diego de Leon Sk Shamim Hasan Abir M. Jasim Uddin Karen Lozano Functionalized Thermoplastic Polyurethane Nanofibers: An Innovative Triboelectric Energy Generator Electronic Materials functionalized thermoplastic polyurethane forcespinning multiwall carbon nanotubes triboelectric nanogenerator |
| title | Functionalized Thermoplastic Polyurethane Nanofibers: An Innovative Triboelectric Energy Generator |
| title_full | Functionalized Thermoplastic Polyurethane Nanofibers: An Innovative Triboelectric Energy Generator |
| title_fullStr | Functionalized Thermoplastic Polyurethane Nanofibers: An Innovative Triboelectric Energy Generator |
| title_full_unstemmed | Functionalized Thermoplastic Polyurethane Nanofibers: An Innovative Triboelectric Energy Generator |
| title_short | Functionalized Thermoplastic Polyurethane Nanofibers: An Innovative Triboelectric Energy Generator |
| title_sort | functionalized thermoplastic polyurethane nanofibers an innovative triboelectric energy generator |
| topic | functionalized thermoplastic polyurethane forcespinning multiwall carbon nanotubes triboelectric nanogenerator |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-3978/4/4/14 |
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