Half-side deposited TiO2 on silk fibroin films: For thermal comfort wearable triboelectric nanogenerators

Wearable triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have garnered significant attention in fields such as motion monitoring and healthcare due to their high output and stability. Despite substantial progress in enhancing the output performance of TENGs, maintaining thermal comfort for users while ensuring reliable functionality remains a key challenge. In this work, we present a hybrid material, deposition of TiO₂ silk protein films on a single half-side, named as HT-SF, fabricated by combining solution-blow-spinning silk fibroin (SF) as the substrate and TiO₂ particles deposited on one side via chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The synergistic interaction between SF and TiO₂ results in a stable triboelectric output (∼40 V) under high-humidity conditions, making HT-SF an effective sensor for monitoring human motion. Additionally, compared to conventional UV-protective fabrics, HT-SF demonstrates a remarkable cooling effect, reducing temperatures by up to 15 ℃, thereby providing exceptional thermal comfort in wearable TENG applications. This study offers a simple yet effective approach for the development of thermally comfortable wearable TENGs, showcasing broad potential in the field of wearable energy harvesting technologies.