# Conformation‐Modulated Lignin for Durable and High‐Output Cellulosic Triboelectric Materials Toward Self‐Powered Sensing

## TL;DR

A new lignin-based material improves the durability and performance of self-powered cellulose sensors for sustainable electronics.

## Contribution

Conformation-engineered alkali lignin with aliphatic side chains enhances triboelectric performance and durability in cellulose composites.

## Key findings

- EAL/Cellulose composite reduces wear rate by 52.44% after 5000 cycles.
- Device achieves Voc of 100 V, Isc of 5.26 µA, and Qsc of 56.87 nC.
- Sensor maintains stable performance after 500 repeated writing cycles.

## Abstract

Cellulose‐based triboelectric sensors offer a sustainable pathway toward self‐powered electronics, yet their practical reliability is severely constrained by long‐term tribo‐induced fiber fibrillation and the resulting interfacial degradation. Herein, we report a conformation‐engineered alkali lignin (EAL) that enables simultaneous enhancement of mechanical durability and electrical output in cellulose‐based triboelectric materials. Succinic‐anhydride grafting introduces flexible aliphatic side chains into the rigid lignin backbone, granting dynamic conformational adaptability that promotes chain sliding and efficient frictional energy dissipation. This molecular strategy significantly suppresses interfacial wear, reducing the wear rate of the EAL/Cellulose composite by 52.44% after 5000 cycles. Conformation modulation also improves dielectric polarization, leading to markedly increased triboelectric performance, with the optimized device delivering high Voc, Isc, and Qsc values of 100 V, 5.26 µA, and 56.87 nC. The EAL/Cellulose‐based sensor exhibits high signal fidelity in robotic finger sliding detection and handwriting recognition, and maintains stable performance after 500 times repeated writing. In addition, the EAL/Cellulose composite demonstrates strong recyclability in a natural environment and rapid enzymatic degradability within 24 h. This work presented a conformation‐guided molecular design strategy for developing durable, high‐output, and eco‐friendly cellulose‐based triboelectric devices for next‐generation self‐powered sensing.

Conformation‐engineered alkali lignin with flexible aliphatic side chains is integrated into cellulose to suppress tribo‐induced fiber fibrillation and interfacial wear. Dynamic chain adaptability enhances frictional energy dissipation and dielectric polarization, enabling durable, high‐output triboelectric sensing with excellent recyclability and rapid biodegradability for sustainable self‐powered electronics.