Directly Preparable self-attached triboelectric nanogenerator on living plant leaf

Abstract

Building a bio-affinity and multifunctional interface between the plant and environment is significant for plant electronics. However, the existed plant electronic devices are subject to problems such as additional energy supply, low operating stability caused by indirect preparation methods, single functionality, or negative impact on the plant’s growth. Here, a self-attached triboelectric nanogenerator (SA-TENG) is directly prepared on surfaces of growing plant leaf based on electrospinning and spraying processes. The SA-TENG device can harvest environmental mechanical energy and enhance antibacterial ability of the leaf, without influencing the plant’s physiological activities. Meanwhile，the SA-TENG can be easily prepared on the leaf of various growing plants anytime and anywhere just by a micro handheld electrospinning instrument, providing good operability for practical applications. This work may inspire the development of multifunctional plant electronics and promote sustainable smart agriculture.