Triboelectric nanogenerator and UV-blocking solid polymer electrolyte nanocomposite from recycled waste cigarette butts

Robust triboelectric nanogenerators that are inexpensive, flexible, transparent, and do not require rigid metal sheet current collectors are vital for next-generation energy/wearable electronic device/robot/self-powered sensor applications. In this study, a soft skin-like solid polymer electrolyte triboelectric nanogenerator (SPE-TENG) with the above characteristics (flexible, good transmittance, and 0.099 S m⁻¹ conductivity) is fabricated using cellulose acetate from waste cigarette butts and branched polyethyleneimine (abbreviated as CA/bPEI composite film). The CA/bPEI SPE composite film can serve as tribopositive electrification and current collector layer and demonstrated excellent electricity generation performance with a power density of 7.54 W m⁻² under a contact-separation working mode. Meanwhile, the SPE-TENG can drive small commercial electronic devices (such as an LED switch) and has demonstrated a high-pressure sensitivity of 6.42 V kPa⁻¹ and ultrafast response/recovery time (~2–6 ms), enabling its application in artificial electronic skin for various motions and tactile sensing. Furthermore, due to bPEI's ability to absorb UV light waves, the CA/bPEI composite film also possesses exceptional UV-ray shielding properties. The proposed work utilized discarded cigarette butts to simultaneously protect the environment and create a multifunctional material that can be used for clean energy harvesting to power small electronic devices and sensors and block harmful UV rays.