Dual-Engineered Cellulosic Triboelectric Platforms with Ultrasensitive Alkaline Responsiveness for Real-Time Seafood Freshness Monitoring

Achieving a synergy between structural stability and an ultrasensitive response to alkaline gases remains a key challenge in developing advanced gas-sensitive cellulosic triboelectric materials. Unlike conventional approaches relying on simple physical blending, this work introduces a novel coupling strategy combining in situ growth with defect engineering. The oxygen-containing groups on the cellulose skeleton coordinate with Zn2+, serving as nucleation sites for the in situ growth of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles, while acid vapor etching precisely creates defective regions. Theoretical calculations demonstrate that defective ZnO exhibits a 55.5% higher NH3 adsorption capacity than pristine ZnO. The resulting AZP3h-TENG achieves an exceptional detection limit of 5 ppm. Remarkably, even after 60 min of continuous rubbing under 30 N force, the ZnO nanoparticles remain firmly anchored to the fiber surfaces without significant detachment. Moreover, the output signal evolution of the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) in packaged microenvironments shows a strong correlation with the total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N) levels in scallops during storage, highlighting its potential for real-time seafood freshness monitoring. This study provides a reliable and innovative strategy for designing ultrasensitive gas-sensitive cellulosic triboelectric materials, paving the way for self-powered, low-cost, and highly sensitive electronics in food safety applications.