Enhanced Triboelectric Performance of Degradable Polylactic Acid Nanocomposite Thin Films

Biomaterials-based triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) are outstanding components in self-powered electronic devices for healthcare monitoring systems. However, addressing the durability, performance, and cost of production of these devices remains a significant research challenge. In this study, a simple solution casting technique to fabricate thin films of polylactic acid (PLA) nanocomposites for TENG applications is proposed. Initially, different transition metal-doped iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) nanoparticles are synthesized via a hydrothermal process and subsequently doped with Co, Ni, and Mn. The morphological analysis techniques, scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscopy, are used to explore the structural properties of doped nanoparticles, while the thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimeter techniques are employed to investigate the thermal stability and crystalline behavior of nanocomposites. Dielectric property analysis reveals shorter relaxation times for the doped nanoparticle-containing composites. Notably, PLA/Mn-doped and PLA/Co-doped nanocomposites exhibit the highest triboelectric properties, which can be attributed to their specific characteristics.