Enhanced Air Filtration and Ammonia Sensing with Cellulose Nanofibers-based Triboelectric Nanogenerators under Harsh Environments

Abstract

Fire accidents often occur in environments characterized by severe air pollution, toxic gas emissions, and microbial growth, creating significant challenges for developing multifunctional portable healthcare devices. These devices must achieve high filtration efficiency, minimal pressure drop, and the capability to provide early warnings of toxic gas leaks. Triboelectric nanogenerators present a sustainable solution as self-powered energy converters for advanced healthcare applications. In this study, we grafted Ti₃C₂T_x/MoS₂ nanohybrid materials, which form Schottky heterojunctions, onto cellulose diacetate using tetraethyl orthosilicate, followed by electrospinning to produce nanofibrous films. When paired with a negatively charged material, the resulting device achieved an optimal balance with a low-pressure drop (52 Pa) and high filtration efficiency (98.72% for PM_0.3). It also demonstrated exceptional stability under high-temperature and high-humidity conditions. Notably, the device maintained rapid sterilization within 15 minutes and consistent filtration performance even after multiple washes. Furthermore, the device exhibited precise detection of trace amounts of NH₃ (0.1 ppm) and demonstrated a rapid response, achieving an 86% response rate within 2 seconds for 100 ppm NH₃, providing an early warning 28 seconds faster than commercial NH₃ monitors. This study introduces a novel approach to the development of multifunctional, self-powered, wearable medical devices that offer high-efficiency air filtration and sterilization, breath monitoring, and rapid toxic gas leakage detection in harsh environments.