Sisal cellulose paper based triboelectric nanogenerator with high performance for detection of chemical group substitution degree

Cellulose-derived materials have attracted extensive attention for applications in advanced electronics due to their abundance, low cost, light weight, and sustainability. Here, we report a paper-based triboelectric nano -generator (TENG) which was made of sisal cellulose as the friction layer. The effects of the surface morphology, structure, and dielectric properties of sisal cellulose paper (SCP) on the output performance of SCP-TENG were discussed. It is found that the electrical output performance of the SCP-TENG can be improved and controlled by chemically modifying SCP with different polar groups of-NO2, -COCH3,-Cl,-Br,-CH3,-C2H5, which is closely related to the dielectric constant change of SCP. Among them, the dielectric constant of the nitrated SCP is the highest, and the electrical output performance of the corresponding SCP-TENG also exhibits the highest, with the short-circuit current, open-circuit voltage, charge and power density improving to 20.78 mu A, 198 V, 103 nC/m2, 827.03 mW/m2, from 6.13 mu A, 118 V, 53 nC/m2, and 256.97 mW/m2, respectively. Based on the linear rela-tionship between the current intensity of the modified SCP-TENG and the degree of substitution of different groups, a chemical sensor for detecting the degree of group substitution was successfully fabricated. This work provides a new idea for broadening the application field of TENG.

Automated summary

Cellulose-derived materials have gained attention in advanced electronics for their abundance, low cost, light weight, and sustainability. This study presents a paper-based triboelectric nano-generator (TENG) using sisal cellulose as the friction layer. The effects of surface morphology, structure, and dielectric properties of sisal cellulose paper (SCP) on the TENG's output performance were discussed. It was found that SCP-TENG's electrical output can be improved and controlled by chemically modifying SCP with different polar groups, and a chemical sensor for detecting the degree of group substitution was successfully fabricated.