Diatom Bio-Silica and Cellulose Nanofibril for Bio-Triboelectric Nanogenerators and Self-Powered Breath Monitoring Masks

作者：Araz Rajabi‐Abhari, Jong‐Nam Kim, Jeehee Lee, Rassoul Tabassian, Manmatha Mahato, Hye Jung Youn, Haeshin Lee, Il‐Kwon Oh · 发表于：ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces · 年份：2020 · DOI：10.1021/acsami.0c18227 · 被引用次数：122 · 研究领域：Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials、Electrospun Nanofibers in Biomedical Applications、Advanced Materials and Mechanics

The application of biodegradable and biocompatible materials to triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) for harvesting energy from motions of the human body has been attracting significant research interest. Herein, we report diatom bio-silica as a biomaterial additive to enhance the output performance of cellulose nanofibril (CNF)-based TENGs. Diatom frustules (DFs), which are tribopositive bio-silica having hierarchically porous three-dimensional structures and high surface area, have hydrogen bonds with CNFs, resulting in enhanced electron-donating capability and a more roughened surface of the DF–CNF composite film. Hence, DFs were applied to form a tribopositive composite film with CNFs. The DF–CNF biocomposite film is mechanically strong, electron-rich, low-cost, and frictionally rough. The DF–CNF TENG showed an output voltage of 388 V and time-averaged power of 85.5 mW/m 2 in the contact–separation mode with an efficient contact area of 4.9 cm 2, and the generated power was sufficient for instantaneous illumination of 102 light-emitting diodes. In addition, a cytotoxicity study and biocompatibility tests on rabbit skin suggested that the DF–CNF composite was biologically safe. Moreover, a practical application of the DF–CNF TENG was examined with a self-powered smart mask for human breathing monitoring. This study not only suggests high output performance of biomaterial-based TENGs but also presents the diverse advantages of the DFs in human body-related applications such...