Cellulose nanocrystal composite films for contactless moisture-electric conversion

Abstract

The ability to convert moisture signals into electrical signals through contactless control underpins a wide range of applications, including health monitoring, disaster warning, and energy harvesting. Despite its potential, the effective utilization of low-grade energy remains challenging, as it often requires complex device architectures that limit scalability and integration, particularly in wearable technologies. Here, we present a soft, flexible moisture-electric converter made from cellulose nanocrystals and polyvinyl alcohol composite films, designed for a novel touchless interactive platform. The device autonomously generates an electric output voltage of 200–700 mV in response to ambient moisture variations without requiring an external energy source. Its design, featuring a soft-adhered conductive carbon strip coupled with the composite film, provides high flexibility and portability. This configuration facilitates the creation of a non-contact control interface that seamlessly interacts with biological moisture from the human body, demonstrated by a mask that detects breathing conditions and a panel that measures contact distance. These advancements offer a promising pathway for developing flexible, intelligent electronic devices for wearable and touchless technologies.