Enhanced Triboelectric Nanogenerator Performance Using Cellulose Nanocrystal-Incorporated Electrospun PVDF-HFP Nanofibrous Membranes

In this study, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) nanofibrous membranes as the positive friction layer and cellulose nanocrystal (CNC)/poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (CNC/PVDF-HFP) composite nanofibrous membranes as the negative friction layer were prepared by electrospinning and assembled into a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). Incorporating dipolar CNC nanoparticles increased the dielectric constant of the CNC/PVDF-HFP membrane and widened the work function difference with the TPU layer, enhancing charge generation during contact–separation cycles. Compared with the pristine PVDF-HFP-based TENG, the CNC/PVDF-HFP-based TENG exhibited significantly improved electrical properties. At the optimal CNC concentration, the optimized CNC/PVDF-HFP membrane achieved maximum open-circuit voltage (VOC), short-circuit current density, and transferred charge of 281.5 V, 54.27 μA, and 95 nC, respectively. A maximum output power density of 5.92 W m–2 was achieved at an external load resistance of 19.3 MΩ. Under operating conditions of 50 N applied force at 5 Hz, the CNC/PVDF-HFP-based TENG successfully powered electronic devices such as LEDs and electronic watches, while maintaining stable VOC performance over 18,000 contact–separation cycles.