PDMS/Co-MOF/V2C MXene Composite Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Joint Movement Monitoring in Orthopaedic Injuries and Danger Alert Detection System for Visually Impaired

Abstract

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are gaining increasing attention as versatile materials in fields such as optoelectronics, sensing, energy storage, and gas storage and separation. However, their potential applications in energy harvesting remain largely underexplored. So, in this study, a PDMS/Co-MOF/V2C MXene composite-based Triboelectric Nanogenerator (TENG) is introduced for monitoring joint movement in orthopaedic patients and providing danger alerts for the visually impaired. The TENG is fabricated by using hydrothermally synthesised cobalt metal-organic framework (Co-MOF) and V2C MXene composite, which is then incorporated into a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix. The composite, optimized at 1 wt.% with a 90:10 ratio of Co-MOF to V2C MXene, is spin-coated onto a 4 cm × 4 cm copper sheet, which serves as one of the device's electrodes. A second copper sheet, wrapped in polyethylene terephthalate (PET), is aligned to form a vertical contact separation TENG. Characterization using XRD, Raman, and FTIR confirmed the crystallinity and successful formation of the V2C MXene's accordion-like structure and the Co-MOF. When activated by manual finger tapping, the device demonstrated excellent energy harvesting capabilities, producing a peak voltage (Voc) of 125 V and a peak current (Isc) of 2.85 µA. The TENG is tested for applications in orthopedic rehabilitation by monitoring body joint movements, offering a way to track the recovery process. Additionally, it is integrated into a specially designed walking stick to provide danger alert detection for the visually impaired, showcasing its adaptability in assistive technologies. This study emphasizes how TENGs can be used for biomedical energy harvesting.