Vertical Phase-Engineering MoS2 Nanosheet-Enhanced Textiles for Efficient Moisture-Based Energy Generation

• Published in: ACS nano Vol. 18; no. 1; pp. 492 - 505
• Main Authors: Cao, Yuan-Ming, Su, Yang, Zheng, Mi, Luo, Peng, Xue, Yang-Biao, Han, Bin-Bin, Zheng, Min, Wang, Zuoshan, Liao, Liang-Sheng, Zhuo, Ming-Peng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Chemical Society 09.01.2024
• Subjects: energy generation; moist-electric generators; molybdenum disulfide; textile electronics; two-dimensional materials; self-powered sensor; wearable electronics
• ISSN: 1936-0851; 1936-086X
• DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c08132

Flexible moisture–electric generators (MEGs) capture chemical energy from atmospheric moisture for sustainable electricity, gaining attention in wearable electronics. However, challenges persist in the large-scale integration and miniaturization of MEGs for long-term, high-power output. Herein, a vertical heterogeneous phase-engineering MoS2 nanosheet structure based silk and cotton were rationally designed and successfully applied to construct wearable MEGs for moisture–energy conversion. The prepared METs exhibit ∼0.8 V open-circuit voltage, ∼0.27 mA/cm2 current density for >10 h, and >36.12 μW/cm2 peak output power density, 3 orders higher than current standards. And the large-scale device realizes a current output of 0.145 A. An internal phase gradient between the 2H semiconductor MoS2 in carbonized silks and 1T metallic MoS2 in cotton fibers enables a phase-engineering-based heterogeneous electric double layer functioning as an equivalent parallel circuit, leading to enhanced high-power output. Owing to their facile customization for seamless adaptation to the human body, we envision exciting possibilities for these wearable METs as integrated self-power sources, enabling real-time monitoring of physiological parameters in wearable electronics.