Advanced Flexible Bioelectrodes for Next-Generation Implantable Triboelectric Nanogenerators

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Energy Harvesting

Background:

• Development of advanced bioelectrodes is crucial for efficient energy harvesting.
• Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) offer a promising avenue for sustainable power generation.
• Electrospun nanofibers provide a versatile platform for fabricating functional materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate novel bioelectrodes using electrospun nanofibers.
• To develop a sustainable triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) prototype.
• To evaluate the electrical and mechanical properties of functionalized nanofibers for TENG applications.

Main Methods:

• Electrospinning of poly(lactic acid-caprolactone) (PLCL) nanofibers.
• Functionalization with graphene and coating with graphene ink or PEDOT:PSS.
• Characterization of nanofiber properties (diameter, Young's modulus, conductivity).
• Assembly and testing of a TENG device using the fabricated bioelectrodes.

Main Results:

• PEDOT:PSS-coated fibers exhibited a high Young's modulus (98 MPa) and conductivity.
• Nanofiber mats showed no cytotoxicity but limited cell adhesion and proliferation.
• The TENG device achieved a power density of 1.9 mW/m² and stored 71 nJ.
• Successful demonstration of TENG device for charging a capacitor.

Conclusions:

• The developed PLCL/graphene nanofibers coated with PEDOT:PSS are suitable for TENG bioelectrode fabrication.
• The TENG module shows potential for sustainable energy harvesting for low-power electronics.
• This technology could support the energy needs of wearable healthcare monitoring devices.