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Oxidation-Resilient Single-Electrode Nanogenerators Based on Modified Copper Nanowires in Core-Shell Design
Luhui Zhu1, Xin Tang2, Ping Su1
1State Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (KLoFE) & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), School of Flexible Electronics (Future Technologies), Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, PR China.
Chemistry, an Asian Journal
|May 23, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a novel silver-coated copper nanowire (CuNW-Ag) core-shell structure to prevent oxidation. This enhanced material improves the stability of flexible electronics, such as triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs).
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Electronics
Background:
- Copper nanowires (CuNWs) offer excellent conductivity and flexibility for flexible electronics.
- Oxidation of CuNWs significantly limits their long-term performance and application scope.
- Developing oxidation-resistant CuNWs is crucial for advancing electronic devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize a stable CuNW-Ag core-shell nanostructure.
- To optimize the synthesis process for efficiency and effectiveness.
- To evaluate the performance enhancement in triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs).
Main Methods:
- Hydrothermal synthesis of CuNWs.
- Galvanic replacement reaction for Ag coating to form CuNW-Ag core-shell structures.
- Optimization of Ag plating by adjusting reaction time and CuNW quantity.
- Characterization using optical and structural measurements.
- Performance testing of single-electrode TENGs.
Main Results:
- A time-efficient synthesis method for CuNW-Ag core-shell nanostructures was established.
- The Ag coating effectively prevented oxidation of CuNWs, confirmed by optical and structural analyses.
- CuNW-Ag core-shell nanostructures demonstrated significantly improved stability in single-electrode TENGs compared to pristine CuNWs.
- Successful real-time LED lighting powered by the TENGs validated the enhanced energy harvesting capabilities.
Conclusions:
- The developed CuNW-Ag core-shell nanostructure provides a robust solution to CuNW oxidation.
- This nanostructure enhances the stability and performance of flexible electronic devices, particularly TENGs.
- The findings show great promise for applications in various electronic and optoelectronic fields.
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