Triboelectric nanogenerator based on industrial oriented lightweight Nylon-6,6 film

The world has acknowledged the significance of sustainable energy harvesting following the mishap of global warming hanged with the bitterness of the energy crisis. The fascinating idea of pooling energy from the ambient environment via highly economical and versatile means drives the latest technique named triboelectric nanogenerator the most desirable among many. The ubiquitous irregular mechanical energy in the low-frequency form can be converted into electrical energy efficiently by choosing the right triboactive materials carrying strong fundamental counter affinities that can draw high potential differences after getting separated once they come in contact with each other. Herein, we explore the prospects of Nylon-6,6 as an affordable and promising tribopositive material that upholds notable thermal stability and mechanical strength that is paired well with the distinguished flexible tribonegative polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film. The study reveals an increment in the triboelectric output performance while adding aqueous glycerol as a plasticizer from 3.1µA short circuit current to 5.1µA within just 4cm2 area of the dielectric films via contact separation mode. The additive enhances the charge development through the electron-donating hydroxyl groups, besides alleviating the brittleness of the whole film. The findings open up numerous creative possibilities for the less explored Nylon-6,6 as a triboelectric material with its unique abrasion resistance and excellent waterproof nature, which is simply a solution cast at room temperature. This marks its efficacy as an outstanding industrially affable material for developing multi-purpose-light-weight devices with energy harvesting functionality.