title: Enhanced triboelectric nanogenerators and triboelectric nanosensor using chemically modified TiO2 nanomaterials.
abstract: Mechanical energy harvesting based on triboelectric effect has been proven to be a simple, cost-effective, and robust method for electricity generation. In this study, we developed a rationally designed triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) by utilizing the contact electrification between a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) thin film and a layer of TiO2 nanomaterial (nanowire and nanosheet) array. The as-developed TENG was systematically studied and demonstrated as a self-powered nanosensor toward catechin detection. The high sensitivity (detection limit of 5 μM) and selectivity are achieved through a strong interaction between Ti atoms of TiO2 nanomaterial and enediol group of catechin. The output voltage and current density were increased by a factor of 5.0 and 2.9, respectively, when adsorbed with catechin of a saturated concentration, because of the charge transfer from catechin to TiO2. This study demonstrates the possibility of improving the electrical output of TENG through chemical modification.
authors.affiliation: School of Material Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0245, United States.
authors.forename: Zong-Hong
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yannan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Ya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Sihong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Guang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Zhong Lin
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Wang