Functional silk-protein-based nanocomposites for light-stimulated and highly efficient triboelectric nanogenerators and charge storage devices

Abstract

Overcoming the formidable challenge of achieving multifunctionality and a seamless bio-interface for triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) is a persistent pursuit. Here, a biomaterial-based nanocomposite designed for both energy harvesting and storage is presented. Molybdenum disulfide nanosheets (MoS2-NSs) are securely and uniformly incorporated into silk fibroin (SF). The resulting MoS2-NS/SF TENG, in conjunction with a tribo-negative polymer, exhibits an open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.95 kV, an average short-circuit current (Isc) of 2.2 μA, and an output power density of 60 μW/cm2—sufficient to illuminate 40 light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Notably, exposure to light triggers a substantial increase in Vocs by more than 26 %. Additionally, the MoS2-NS/SF nanocomposite enables efficient energy storage, with a frequency-dependent dielectric constant ranging from 28.2 to 2.6. This underscores its potential as a versatile electronic material platform for wearable devices, seamlessly integrating motion sensing, energy harvesting, and charge storage capabilities.