A high performance triboelectric nanogenerator using assembled sugar naphthalimides for self-powered electronics and sensors

A new class of N-glycosyl naphthalimide ricinoleate (NGNR) amphiphiles were generated using environmentally friendly reaction conditions in good yields. To investigate the potential applications of NGNR amphiphiles within the realm of supramolecular materials, molecular self-assembly experiments were conducted extensively across a diverse range of solvents and oils and observed the gel formation. Molecular-level interactions and assembly patterns were investigated by employing FTIR, SAXRD, UV–vis, and fluorescence spectroscopy, and a plausible assembly mechanism was proposed. The morphology of the supramolecular architecture was identified by scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, rheological studies provided insight into these soft materials' strength and processability. Further, in the process of fabricating a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) device, silicone rubber serves as an electron acceptor and assembled NGNR serves as an electron donor. The developed TENG demonstrated a significant improvement in performance over TENG made with amorphous NGNR, with output voltage, current, and power density of 410 V, 100 µA, and 5.1 W/m2, respectively, highlighting the importance of the assembly process. Furthermore, TENG is used to continuously power up small electronic device (calculator), which is useful in building self-powered electronic devices. Lastly, due to its high sensitivity and stability, the TENG was used to detect the humidity of the environment in the food processing, textile, and agriculture sectors. The change in TENG response is notably significant up to 70 % relative humidity (RH). This work showcases the development of self-powered humidity sensors.