Preparation of UV-cured cellulose nanocrystal-filled epoxidized natural rubber and its application in a triboelectric nanogenerator

Cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) is an abundant biopolymer possessing high strength and biodegradability. In the present work, the extraction of CNCs from Napier grass stems was carried out. The CNCs were subsequently modified by maleic anhydride, called M-CNC, before being incorporated into the epoxidized natural rubber (ENR). The compounds were later cured by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation under various conditions. The obtained optimum condition was then used to fabricate the biocomposites filled with various CNC and M-CNC loadings for triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) performance measurements. Output voltage and current increased continuously with increasing filler loading. Regardless of the filler type, an increase in filler loading enhanced TENG output. ENR/M-CNC exhibited a superior TENG output to ENR/CNC due to the greater electron transfer capability of the biocomposites, as proven by the reduction in the ionization potential (IP) value obtained from the quantum calculation. In this study, ENR/M-CNC5 exhibited the maximum output voltage (80.3 V), current (7.4 mu A), and power density (1.32 W/m2) at a load resistance of 9 M omega.