Enhanced sensing performance of triboelectric nanosensors by solid-liquid contact electrification. (November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chatterjee, Subhodeep; Saha, Subhajit; Barman, Snigdha Roy; Khan, Imran; Pao, Yu-Ping; Lee, Sangmin; Choi, Dukhyun; Lin, Zong-Hong
• Is Part Of: Nano energy. Volume 77(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-11
• Subjects: Contact electrification -- Chemical enhancement -- Triboelectric nanogenerator -- TiO2 -- Self-powered sensor -- Catechin; Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanostructured materials -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Nanoscience; Nanostructured materials; Nanotechnology; Power resources -- Technological innovations; Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.105093
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2211-2855

Abstract

Abstract: Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) and triboelectric nanosensors (TENSs) are the prime backbones for the realization of environmental mechanical energy harvesting and self-powered sensing applications. However, the low efficiency of concurrent solid-solid contact electrification creates a major bottleneck for the growth of highly promising technologies. To address this problem, herein, we report a strategic protocol to design a TENS by solid-liquid contact electrification for chemical sensing purposes as well as an efficient approach for the chemical enhancement of solid-liquid TENGs. In particular, TiO2 nanosheet arrays and various solvents (including water, ethanol and acetone) are employed as solid triboelectric materials and contact liquids, respectively, for the demonstration of solid-liquid contact electrification for mechanical energy harvesting and catechin detection. As a self-powered sensor, the TiO2 nanosheet array-based TENS provides superior advantages such as long-term stability, frequency-independent output and humidity-insensitive properties compared to previously reported solid-solid TENSs. The chemically enhanced sensing mechanism of the TiO2 nanosheet array-based TENS for catechin detection is further confirmed with the decrease in the work function and can provide a wide linear window (100 nM–100 μM) and a low detection limit (30 nM). All the results support that solid-liquid TENSs pave a new path toward efficient self-powered sensors for environmental and healthcare monitoring. Graphical abstract: Solid-liquid triboelectric nanosensors (TENSs) were successfully demonstrated by utilizing TiO2 nanosheet arrays as the solid triboelectric layer, and various liquids including water, ethanol and acetone were compared to optimize the sensing performance. The ligand-to-metal charge transfer is attributed to the sensing mechanism, which results in lowering the work function of the TiO2 nanosheet arrays and boosting the output voltage. Image 1 Highlights: The first solid-liquid triboelectric nanosensor (TENS) that exhibits superior sensing performance and long-term stability. Ligand to metal charge transfer reduces the work function of TiO2 nanosheets and boosts the sensing with LOD of 30 nM. As alternative liquids to water, volatile solvents overcome the requirement of hydrophobic surfaces in solid-liquid TENS. Chemical enhancement strategy emerges as an effective protocol to ramp-up the electrical output of solid-liquid TENG.