Intrinsic Flame Retardant Triboelectric Nanogenerators Based on Liquid-Crystalline Copolyesters

Abstract

The development of intrinsic flame retardant triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) employed at extremely high temperatures and directly in contact with flames attracts researchers' attention but is tough to achieve. In this work, we develop a fireresistant and self-extinguishing TENG (FRTENG) that can be used as a power generator in extreme application scenarios, for example, firefighting, personal protection, or applying in extreme hightemperature conditions. The FRTENG profits by the extraordinary thermal characteristics of liquid-crystalline polyarylate copolymerized with poly(ethylene terephthalate), whose flame retardancy, antidripping, and triboelectric properties have been significantly enhanced. This FRTENG is fire-resistant and antidripping after 15 s of trying, while the traditional triboelectric materials were totally burned by flames under the same circumstances. Our FRTENG can maintain over 53% of original electrical output performance even after 15 s of combustion (∼500 °C) while providing excellent flame retardancy missing in the existing TENGs. It is believed that the fireretardant and self-extinguishing FRTENG will be a path-breaking device for lifesaving wearable applications.

A Critical Review on Triboelectric Nanogenerators (TENGs) with Flame Retardant, Antibacterial, Self-Cleaning, or Water Repellent Properties

“…Zhou et al copolymerized 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 4,4′dihydroxybiphenyl, 1,4-dicarboxybenzene, and 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid with polyester via melt polycondensation to develop an intrinsically flame-retardant polymer that would be used in TENG. 91 The TENG showed an open circuit voltage of 60 V and a short circuit current of 1.7 μA. When subjected to flame, the rigidly packed chains of polymers refrain from transferring heat and dissociation of bonds.…”

“…The heat release capacity (HRC) of the polymers used for developing the TENG was reported to be 111 J/gK, and the peak heat release rate (PHRR) was 101.1 W/g, as obtained from cone calorimetry studies. Zhou et al copolymerized 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 4,4′-dihydroxybiphenyl, 1,4-dicarboxybenzene, and 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid with polyester via melt polycondensation to develop an intrinsically flame-retardant polymer that would be used in TENG . The TENG showed an open circuit voltage of 60 V and a short circuit current of 1.7 μA.…”

“…(a) Structure of flame retardant LCP developed by Zhou et al and the (b) structure of the TENG made using the same polymer (PET: polyester). Reproduced with permission from reference ref . Copyright 2022 American Chemical Society.…”

A micro‐nanohierarchical composite fabric for efficient water transport and outstanding flame retardancy

“…However, many of fabrics materials are highly flammable due to their polymeric matrix is flammable. 17,18 There are many strategies for endowing the polymeric material outstanding flame retardant, 19 such as the intrinsic flame retardant, [20][21][22] blending flame retardant, 23,24 and surface modification retardant. 25,26 Among them, intrinsic flame retardant is the simplest, most stable method.…”