High-performance naturally crosslinked silk-based triboelectric nanogenerators for multimodal sensing and energy harvesting

Acclaimed for its biodegradability, biocompatibility, flexibility, and exceptional electron-donating capabilities, silk has emerged as a highly versatile material employed in the design and fabrication of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). However, the fabrication of silk-based composite membranes that simultaneously achieve high flexibility, environmental sustainability, and excellent electrical output remains a significant challenge. Herein, a strategy for fabricating silk-based single-electrode TENG (SETENG) is proposed and the dielectric constant enhancement in flexible electronic devices with high power capabilities is presented, featuring controllable pore structures and rough surface morphologies. Through the meticulous process of incorporating MXene into the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), silk fibroin (SF), and silk sericin (SS) solution, a homogeneous and uniform PVA/SF/SS/MXene (MFS) film was successfully synthesized. Remarkably, SS, which is typically regarded as a waste byproduct in silk fiber production, demonstrated excellent dispersing capabilities for MXene, a material that is notoriously difficult to disperse. The MFS/Fluorinated nylon SETENG (MFS/F-SETENG) achieved a record-high power density of 35.76 W/m² and a voltage of 748 V at a frequency of 3 Hz and a force of 5 N. This work offers unique insights into the design and development of silk-based SENTENG with high electrical performance for energy harvesting and sensing applications.