Strong and Stable Woody Triboelectric Materials Enabled by Biphase Blocking

Nano Lett. 2024 Nov 18. doi: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c02802. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Driven by the "Internet of Everything" (IoE) vision, the demand for smart materials is growing. Wood, one of the most abundant and renewable resources, has long been a staple in construction and furnishing applications. To further expand its application range, this study developed a high-strength, stable wood-based triboelectric material through a synergistic biphasic mechanism. The in situ growth of flame retardants and the formation of a dense char layer significantly enhanced the fire resistance of the wood-based triboelectric material, reducing the heat release rate (HRR) by 95.4% and total heat release (THR) by 94.2%. The dense laminate structure provided an excellent impact toughness (126 kJ m-2). As a smart sensor, the wood-based triboelectric material demonstrated the ability to recognize human motion states and trajectories, exhibiting great potential for applications in smart homes. This study provides valuable insights for exploring the potential applications of wood as a smart material.

Keywords: fire stable; high strength; triboelectric materials; triboelectric nanogenerators; wood-based materials.