Electronically Robust Self-Assembled Supramolecular Gel as a Potential Material in Triboelectric Nanogenerators

Abstract

A series of self-assembling gluconamide conjugated naphthalimide amphiphiles (GCNA) was synthesized and the self-assembly of GCNA into gel rendered an increased electron density in naphthalimide moiety with an overall change in energy of 15.33×10 32 J via J-type aggregation. SEM analysis and X-ray diffraction underpinning the nano fibrillar formation, and rheological measurements confirmed the processablity and material fabrication. The enriched electron density in the aggregated GCNA4 via cooperative intermolecular non-covalent interactions makes it as effective electron donor in the fabrication of triboelectric nanogener ators (TENG). The TENG based on GCNA4-polydimeth ylsiloxane (PDMS) triboelectric pair generated an output voltage, current and power density of ~250 V, 40 μA and ~622 mW/m 2 respectively, which is almost 2.4 times better in performance than the amorphous GCNA4 based TENG. The fabricated TENG can power-up 240 LEDs, wrist watch, thermometer, calculator and hygrometer.