Enhanced sensing performance of triboelectric nanosensors by solid-liquid contact electrification
Journal
NANO ENERGY
Journal Volume
77
Date Issued
2020
Author(s)
Abstract
Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) and triboelectric nanosensors (TENSs) are the prime backbones for the realization of environmental mechanical energy harvesting and self-powered sensing applications. However, the low efficiency of concurrent solid-solid contact electrification creates a major bottleneck for the growth of highly promising technologies. To address this problem, herein, we report a strategic protocol to design a TENS by solid-liquid contact electrification for chemical sensing purposes as well as an efficient approach for the chemical enhancement of solid-liquid TENGs. In particular, TiO2 nanosheet arrays and various solvents (including water, ethanol and acetone) are employed as solid triboelectric materials and contact liquids, respectively, for the demonstration of solid-liquid contact electrification for mechanical energy harvesting and catechin detection. As a self-powered sensor, the TiO2 nanosheet array-based TENS provides superior advantages such as long-term stability, frequency-independent output and humidity-insensitive properties compared to previously reported solid-solid TENSs. The chemically enhanced sensing mechanism of the TiO2 nanosheet array-based TENS for catechin detection is further confirmed with the decrease in the work function and can provide a wide linear window (100 nM–100 μM) and a low detection limit (30 nM). All the results support that solid-liquid TENSs pave a new path toward efficient self-powered sensors for environmental and healthcare monitoring.
Subjects
Contact electrification; Chemical enhancement; Triboelectric nanogenerator; TiO2; Self-powered sensor; Catechin; TEA CATECHINS; ENERGY; NANOGENERATORS; ARRAYS; WATER; NANOPARTICLES; PRESSURE; SENSOR; MODEL; FOIL
Publisher
ELSEVIER
Type
journal article