Study of functionalization approaches for graphene oxide : towards the development of composite nanofibers for triboelectric energy harvesting

Abstract

In this study, graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized using the modified Hummers method and functionalized with amino silane (AEAPTMS), resulting in silane-graphene oxide (SGO). The surface of SGO was then decorated with zirconium oxide (ZrO2) nanoparticles, forming SGO-ZrO2 nanohybrids. All the synthetized materials were subjected to various characterization techniques, including Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Zeta potential measurement and Scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results confirmed the successful synthesis of the nanohybrids. These nanohybrids were incorporated into polyacrylonitrile (PAN) to fabricate composite nanofibers for triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) applications. Characterization of the PAN-SGO-ZrO2 nanofibers revealed chemical interactions between the components, enhanced crystallinity and improvements in mechanical properties. TENG devices fabricated with these nanofibers exhibited significantly improved output voltage and power density compared to neat PAN-based devices. This work highlights the potential of combining surface functionalization with electrospun nanofibers for the development of high-performance energy harvesting materials, offering a pathway for scalable, efficient energy harvesting solutions and expanding their application in diverse energy harvesting systems.