Animal Hair-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator (TENG): A Substitute for the Positive Polymer Layer in TENG

A triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is a sustainable solution for the development of smart battery-less devices. It is clean, pollution-free, and cost-effective. Various studies have investigated the fabrication of TENGs using different materials. Biomaterials have great potential in this area. Hair, a natural biomaterial, is made of keratinized proteins having different chains of amino acids. These amino acids act as an active layer for the TENG. In this investigation, animal hair is used to fabricate an active layer of a TENG. This layer is tested with active layers of different biomaterials including egg shell membrane and cellulose from different sources ( Bombax ceiba tree cotton, tissue paper cellulose), synthetic materials including Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene—PTFE) and zinc oxide (ZnO), and metals including copper (Cu) and aluminium (Al). The TENG generated 200 volts peak-to-peak voltage using dog hairs and a PTFE combination. A series combination of 124 light-emitting diodes was also lighted with this TENG. Finally, a smart device was powered using this combination. This work provides a basis for further research using different biomaterials for TENG fabrication.