Universally autonomous self-healing triboelectric nanogenerators based on fully bio-Polyurethane/AgNWs composite electrodes

To overcome the petroleum dependence, non-degradability, and fatigue damage of traditional polyurethanes, we designed and synthesized a fully bio-based polyurethane elastomer (WBPUxPy). This material incorporates dynamic van der Waals interactions, hydrogen-bonded cross-links, and degradable polylactic acid (PLA) segments. Flexible chain segments enable molecular mobility at low temperatures (glass transition temperature, T_g = −39 °C), while the dynamic network enables efficient self-healing across a wide temperature spectrum (from −10 °C to 80 °C). Furthermore, the PLA segments impart alkaline degradability, enabling environmentally benign recycling of electronic components. A low-temperature self-healing triboelectric nanogenerator (LZ-TENG) was fabricated using WBPUxPy as the tribo-active layer and a WBPU₆P₁/silver nanowire (AgNWs) composite as the conductive electrode layer. This composite device retained 95 % of its output performance after self-healing at −10 °C. Practical implementation demonstrated this composite TENG's stable power generation capability under extreme conditions when integrated into a self-power supply system. This work provides an innovative bio-based elastomer and its derived composite functional layers/devices for flexible electronics and sustainable energy applications.