"Self-Matched" Tribo/Piezoelectric Nanogenerators Using Vapor-Induced Phase-Separated Poly(vinylidene fluoride) and Recombinant Spider Silk.

Abstract

Flexible biocompatible mechanical energy harvesters are drawing increasing interest because of their high energy-harvesting efficiency for powering wearable/implantable devices. Here, a type of "self-matched" tribo-piezoelectric nanogenerators composed of genetically engineered recombinant spider silk protein and piezoelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)-decorated poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) layers is reported. The PET layer serves as a shared structure and electrification layer for both piezoelectric and triboelectric nanogenerators. Importantly, the PVDF generates a strong piezo-potential that modifies the surface potential of the PET layer to match the electron-transfer direction of the spider silk during triboelectrification. A "vapor-induced phase-separation" process is developed to enhance the piezoelectric performance in a facile and "green" roll-to-roll manufacturing fashion. The devices show exceptional output performance and energy transformation efficiency among currently existing energy harvesters of similar sizes and exhibit the potential for large-scale fabrication and various implantable/wearable applications.