Protein-Based Flexible Moisture-Induced Energy-Harvesting Devices As Self-Biased Electronic Sensors

Abstract

Thin protein films of gelatin molecules grown on flexible substrates have been utilized to fabricate moisture-induced energy-harvesting devices, which work as self-biased sensors. Adsorbed water molecules from ambient moisture generate protons inside the film. A proton transfer path is formed through the hydrogen-bonded water molecules with protein around 55% relative humidity condition, and the protons are transferred due to the gradient of absorbed water molecules within the protein films. The devices are capable of harvesting electric power up to 5.5 μW/cm2 with an induced voltage of 0.71 V. Our findings not only provide a futuristic clean power generation concept from protein film as flexible power generator but also demonstrate the use of the energy-harvesting devices as self-biased electronic sensors for various flexible and wearable applications. The devices showed exceptional performance as humidity sensors and have been used for flexible healthcare applications, such as continuous monitoring of breathing pattern and lateral mapping of moisture levels at the finger tip for monitoring the wound healing process. Nevertheless, the diode-like response of the devices with humidity has been found to be suitable as a self-biased humidity-controlled electronic switch.