Ag nanowire-embedded core (PS)-shell (PVDF) nanofibers for high-performance triboelectric nanogenerators and artificial intelligence-driven material recognition

Over the past decade, extensive research has focused on surface engineering and multi-layer approaches to enhance the contact electrification and electrostatic induction of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). However, most of these techniques involve time-consuming, multi-step fabrication processes, highlighting the need for innovative approaches. In this study, we introduce a core-shell nanofiber (NF) architecture composed of a polystyrene (PS) core embedded with silver nanowires (Ag NWs) and a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) shell. This core (PS/Ag)-shell (PVDF) structure significantly enhanced both charge trapping and β-phase induction. Systematic optimization demonstrated that embedding 0.04 vol% Ag NWs into the PS core increased the average peak-to-peak voltage to 319.9 V, representing a 94.3% enhancement compared with pristine core-shell NFs. Comprehensive analysis confirmed that the core-loaded structure outperformed its shell-loaded counterpart because the spatial confinement of Ag NWs within the PS core, together with shielding by the PVDF shell, enhanced charge storage and suppressed leakage current. The core–shell structure also exhibited faster charge accumulation, which is particularly advantageous in applications where external mechanical work is supplied momentarily. Finally, a model trained on triboelectric voltage data achieved 98.3% classification accuracy for five distinct materials, highlighting the potential of this self-powered TENG sensor for intelligent material recognition.