Biopolymer Nanofibers for Nanogenerator Development

Lulu Bai; Qing Li; Ya Yang; Shengjie Ling; Haipeng Yu; Shouxin Liu; Jian Li; Wenshuai Chen

doi:10.34133/2021/1843061

Biopolymer Nanofibers for Nanogenerator Development

Research (Wash D C). 2021 Feb 22:2021:1843061. doi: 10.34133/2021/1843061. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Lulu Bai¹, Qing Li¹, Ya Yang², Shengjie Ling³, Haipeng Yu¹, Shouxin Liu¹, Jian Li¹, Wenshuai Chen¹

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Bio-Based Material Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.
² CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Beijing Key Laboratory of Micro-Nano Energy and Sensor, Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101400, China.
³ School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.

Abstract

The development of nanogenerators (NGs) with optimal performances and functionalities requires more novel materials. Over the past decade, biopolymer nanofibers (BPNFs) have become critical sustainable building blocks in energy-related fields because they have distinctive nanostructures and properties and can be obtained from abundant and renewable resources. This review summarizes recent advances in the use of BPNFs for NG development. We will begin by introducing various strategies for fabricating BPNFs with diverse structures and performances. Then, we will systematically present the utilization of polysaccharide and protein nanofibers for NGs. We will mainly focus on the use of BPNFs to generate bulk materials with tailored structures and properties for assembling of triboelectric and piezoelectric NGs. The use of BPNFs to construct NGs for the generation of electricity from moisture and osmosis is also discussed. Finally, we illustrate our personal perspectives on several issues that require special attention with regard to future developments in this active field.

Publication types

Review