A core–shell fiber moisture-driven electric generator enabled by synergetic complex coacervation and built-in potential

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 15; no. 1; pp. 10056 - 13
• Main Authors: Zan, Guangtao, Jiang, Wei, Kim, HoYeon, Zhao, Kaiying, Li, Shengyou, Lee, Kyuho, Jang, Jihye, Kim, Gwanho, Shin, EunAe, Kim, Woojoong, Oh, Jin Woo, Kim, Yeonji, Park, Jong Woong, Kim, Taebin, Lee, Seonju, Oh, Ji Hye, Shin, Jowon, Kim, Hyeong Jun, Park, Cheolmin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 20.11.2024; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 639/301/299; 639/4077/4072; Alginic acid; Coacervation; Current carriers; Electric generators; Electric potential; Generators; Humanities and Social Sciences; Moisture; multidisciplinary; Nanoribbons; Performance degradation; Polyelectrolytes; Relative humidity; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Sodium alginate; Sodium channels (voltage-gated); Surface charge; Synapses
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54442-4

Moisture-driven electricity generators (MEGs) have been extensively researched; however, high-performance flexible variants have seldom been demonstrated. Here we present a novel complex coacervation with built-in potential strategy for developing a high-performance uniaxial MEG, featuring a core of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) with a built-in charge potential and a gel shell composed of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) and sodium alginate (NaAlg) coacervate. The complex coacervation of two oppositely charged polyelectrolytes produces extra mobile carriers and free volume in the device; meanwhile, the PEDOT core’s surface charge significantly accelerates carrier diffusion. Consequently, the uniaxial fiber-based MEG demonstrates breakthrough performance, achieving an output voltage of up to 0.8 V, a maximum current density of 1.05 mA/cm 2 , and a power density of 184 μW/cm 2 at 20% relative humidity. Moreover, the mechanical robustness is ensured for the PEDOT nanoribbon substrate without performance degradation even after 100,000 folding cycles, making it suitable for self-powered human interactive sensor and synapse. Notably, we have constructed the inaugural MEG-synapse self-powered device, with a fiber-based MEG successfully operating a synaptic memristor, thereby emulating autonomous human synapses linked with fibrous neurons. Overall, this work pioneers innovative design strategies and application scenarios for high-performance MEGs. The authors present a core–shell fiber moisture-driven electric generator by a synergetic complex coacervation and built-in potential strategy, enabling self-powered human interactive sensors and synaptic devices.