Naturally Degradable Triboelectric Nanogenerator Based on TiO₂/CMC for Monitoring Human Movement

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have received much attention as cost-effective and friendly energy-harvesting devices that effectively convert mechanical energy from the environment into electrical energy. In this study, a naturally degradable TENG was papered based on TiO 2 /CMC, which is a cellulose derivative with ease of degradation, good biocompatibility, and low cost. By doping TiO 2 nanoparticles, the open circuit voltage, short circuit current, and transfer charge were significantly improved compared to the TENG-based pure CMC film because of the increased dielectric constant, and the corresponding values of 121 V, 6.7 μA, and 20.5 nC were obtained at a doping concentration of 8 wt %. Then, the manufactured triboelectric nanogenerator (MT-TENG) was successful in lighting up LED lights and powering commercial calculators. Moreover, the MT-TENG was used to collect human mechanical energy, which confirms its potential applications. This study provides a feasible path for the research of TENGs based on biomass materials.