In this paper, a kind of green triboelectric nano-generator based on natural degradable cellulose is proposed. Different kinds of regenerated cellulose composite layers are prepared by a blending doping method, and then assembled with poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) thin films to form tribioelectric nanogenerator (TENG). The results show that the open circuit output voltage and the short circuit output current using a pure cellulose membrane is 7.925 V and 1.095 μA. After adding a certain amount of polyamide (PA6)/polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/barium titanate (BaTiO₃), the open circuit output voltage peak and the peak short circuit output current increases by 254.43% (to 20.155 V) and 548.04% (to 6.001 μA). The surface morphology, elemental composition and functional group of different cellulose layers are characterized by Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and tested by the electrochemical analyze. Moreover, after multiple assembly and rectification processing, the electrical output performance shows that the peak value of open-circuit output voltage and the peak value of short circuit output current increases by 132.06% and 116.13%. Within 500 s of the charge-discharge test, the single peak charge reached 3.114 V, and the two peak charges reached 3.840 V. The results demonstrate that the nano-generator based on cellulose showed good stability and reliability, and the application and development of natural biomaterials represented by cellulose are greatly promoted in miniature electronic sensing area.

Ionic polymer–metal composites (IPMC) have the advantages of a large driving mass ratio, low driving voltage, and high current sensitivity, but their low electrode continuity, low energy storage, and unclear driving response mechanisms limit further application and development. In this study, Nafion is used as the base film and metallic silver is used as the electrode material to modify IPMC electrodes. The physical and electrochemical properties of silver-based IPMC with three electrode preparation processes are tested, and the effects of different electrode preparation processes and structures on the energy storage performance and driving performance of IPMC are analyzed. The results show that the electrode coating effect of the Hot Press Chemical Plating method (HPCP) is good and maintains better continuity, and the formed layer electrode can improve the energy storage performance of IPMC, and the enhancement of energy storage performance can improve the driving performance of IPMC. This study enhances the energy storage performance and driving performance of IPMC from the perspective of electrode process and structure and provides a basis for the study of the enhancement of energy storage performance of IPMC by the HPCP electrode preparation process.

With the development of bionics and marine science, a new artificial muscle material, IPMC (ion-exchange polymer metal composite), has attracted significant attention. However, the performance issues, as well as problems associated with the preparation of IPMC, have limited its development. In this study, we use the freeze-drying technique, successfully creating a new type of enhanced carbon nanotube IPMC material. Moreover, we also use the method of cyclic voltammetry, ac impedance, and the constant current charge and discharge method to analyze and evaluate the multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-reinforced IPMC produced by freeze-drying technology. Freeze-dried IPMC has a higher moisture content, which is 1.58 times higher than that of ordinary IPMC. The pore and multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) in the ion exchange membrane are distributed more homogeneously. The technology prepared by IPMC has superior electrical performance. Under a 2v scanning interval and a scanning speed of 50mV/s, its specific capacitance can reach 247.5335mF/cm⁻², which is 24 times that of normal IPMC. Under the same conditions, its conductivity can reach 0.29391mS/cm, far higher than that of ordinary IPMC. Furthermore, the preparation process is also safer. This method provides a new strategy for the future preparation and usage of IPMC.

Ionic polymer–metal composites consist of an ion-conducting polymer–gel membrane sandwiched between two flexible electrodes, representing a class of soft electroactive materials capable of large deformation under low voltage. The gel membrane, swollen with solvent, facilitates ion migration under an electric field, enabling actuation. Tailoring the interfacial architecture between the electrode and the polymer–gel membrane is pivotal for advancing high-performance IPMC actuators. This study presents a comparative investigation of three core–shell nanocomposite electrodes, fabricated via in situ polymerization, for IPMC applications. Among these, the polyaniline-coated multi-walled carbon nanotube composite exhibits a deliberately designed hierarchical structure, with a specific surface area of 32.345 m²·g⁻¹ and a conductive doped polyaniline shell, as confirmed through XPS analysis. This optimized interface enables superior charge storage and transport, endowing the corresponding electrode with a specific capacitance of 40.28 mF·cm⁻² at 100 mV·s⁻¹—3.2 times greater than that of conventional silver-based electrodes—along with a reduced sheet resistance. When integrated with a Nafion ion–gel membrane, the PANI@MWCNT electrode achieves a 67% increase in force density and a larger displacement output compared to standard devices, directly correlated with its enhanced electrical and electrochemical properties. This work highlights the critical role of core–shell interfacial engineering in governing electromechanical performance at the electrode–gel interface and offers a practical design strategy for developing high-performance, cost-effective IPMC actuators for soft robotics, flexible electronics, and related applications.