Enhanced Triboelectric Performance of Degradable Polylactic Acid Nanocomposite Thin Films

Biomaterials‐based triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) are outstanding components in self‐powered electronic devices for healthcare monitoring systems. However, addressing the durability, performance, and cost of production of these devices remains a significant research challenge. In this study, we propose a simple solution casting technique to fabricate thin films of polylactic acid (PLA) nanocomposites for TENG applications. Initially, different transition metal‐doped iron oxide (Fe2O3) nanoparticles were synthesized via a hydrothermal process and subsequently doped with Co, Ni, and Mn. The morphological analysis techniques, SEM and AFM, were used to explore the structural properties of doped nanoparticles, while the TGA and DSC techniques were employed to investigate the thermal stability and crystalline behavior of nanocomposites. Dielectric property analysis revealed shorter relaxation times for the doped nanoparticle‐containing composites. Notably, PLA/Mn‐doped and PLA/Co‐doped nanocomposites exhibited the highest triboelectric properties, which can be attributed to their specific characteristics.