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 nanogenerator (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 -NO 2 , -COCH 3 , -Cl, -Br, -CH 3 , -C 2 H 5 , 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 μA, 198 V, 103 nC/m 2 , 827.03 mW/m 2 , from 6.13 μA, 118 V, 53 nC/m 2 , and 256.97 mW/m 2 , respectively. Based on the linear relationship 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. Sisal cellulose paper based triboelectric nanogenerator (SCP-TENG) was successfully fabricated and its electrical output performance can be improved and controlled by grafting different polar groups on the SCP friction layer to change its dielectric constant. A chemical sensor for detecting the degree of group substitution was also successfully constructed based on the linear relation of the electrical output performance of SCP-TENG with the amount of grafted polar groups on the SCP. • Sisal cellulose paper (SCP) was firstly used as the friction layer of triboelectric nanogenerator. • SCP based TENG shows excellent output electrical performance. • Output electrical performance of SCP-TENG can be improved and controlled by surface functional groups. • Output electrical performance of SCP-TENG closely relates to the dielectric constant of SCP. • A chemical sensor based on SCP-TENG for detecting group substitution degree was constructed.