Polyimide Nanofiber-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerators Using Piezoelectric Carbon Nanotube@Barium Titanate Nanoparticles

The triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has been considered as an effective way to convert various mechanical energies into electrical energy. However, the energy output needs continuous improvement for potential applications. In this study, triboelectric layers composed of polyimide (PI) matrix and carbon nanotube@barium titanate (CNT@BTO) nanoparticles were developed to achieve the performance enhancement through the synergistic coupling of piezoelectric and triboelectric effects as well as the microcapacitor function. To achieve the purpose, CNT@BTO nanoparticles were synthesized by the chemical vapor deposition method and then incorporated into a flexible PI triboelectric layer prepared using electrospinning technology and thermal imidization. The results showed that when the BTO content was 26 wt % and the CNT content was 2 wt %, the open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current of a TENG based on a PI/CNT@BTO nanofiber membrane reached 305 V and 104 μA, which were 3 times higher than those of a pure PI-based TENG. The TENG demonstrated sufficient power to drive small electronic devices, such as calculators, and to light up 124 commercial green LED and 18 blue COB light sources. Additionally, the TENG was integrated into a real-time temperature-sensing alarm system, showcasing its potential application in safety-related fields. The study demonstrated the feasible methods for TENGs’ performance enhancement and provided potential application fields of energy-harvesting and self-powered sensing systems.