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Drug release devices of small molecules are widely used in cell stimulation, drug delivery, and microenvironment regulation. Herein, a flexible drug release device (FDRD) powered by a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is demonstrated, that has the superiority of low power consumption, flexible structure, and controllable release. In the self‐powered FDRD, the TENG can effectively harvest and transfer biomechanical energy into electricity. With a power management module, the TENG can provide a steady voltage supply for sustainable drug release, and the unique switchable wettability of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) films in Na2SO4 aqueous solutions can be regulated. The UV–vis absorption spectra of small molecules including methylene blue, fluorescein sodium, and rhodamine 6G released from the FDRD can be observed and recorded in real time. Furthermore, the releasing rate of conventional salicylic acid with the effect of removing cutin, sterilizing, and diminishing inflammation is also recorded in Na2SO4 aqueous solution. With the advantages of flexible structure, and controllable and sustainable release, the self‐powered FDRD is expected to find great potential in wearable medical devices, drug controllable release, and self‐powered therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tribovoltaic effect can convert semiconductor interfacial frictional mechanical energy into direct current (DC) electricity, but the flexibility and durability of semiconductor materials limit its application in wearable electronic. Herein, a robust flexible textile tribovoltaic nanogenerator is presented based on a 2D dynamic heterojunction of 2H‐MoS2/Ta4C3 (MTNG). During the friction process, a built‐in electric field (Eb) and an additional interfacial electric field (ECE) are generated in a continuous dynamic contact of 2H‐MoS2/Ta4C3, and through the 2H‐MoS2/Ta4C3 dynamic heterojunction, a significant number of electron‐hole pairs are excited and move directionally to generate a DC. The influences of mechanical pressure and sliding speed on output performance of MTNGs are systematically investigated. The MTNGs deliver excellent output power density (39.15 mW m2) and outstanding robustness (43 000 cycles). Ten MTNGs can be connected in series to obtain a DC voltage of 3.3 V and in parallel to obtain a DC current of 75 µA. Furthermore, the MTNGs can effectively power a variety of commercial electronic watches and calculators by harvesting human kinetic energy. A 2D dynamic heterojunction 2H‐MoS2/Ta4C3 DC nanogenerator is described and offers a workable option for the creation of flexible DC power sources and self‐powered wearable electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tribovoltaic effect raises an emerging semiconductor energy technology and silicon‐based tribovoltaic nanogenerator (Si‐TVNG) has aroused great attentions. However, the electrical output of Si‐TVNG is extremely unstable due to its complicated mechanism. Here, a competitive mechanism between the built‐in electric field (BEF) and the interfacial electric field (IEF) is proposed to determine the current direction and magnitude of the Si‐TVNG. The results indicate that the natural oxide layer, load pressure, and resistivity of Si significantly affect the IEF and BEF. The natural oxide layer can store surface charges by contact electrification, resulting in a IEF dominant carriers transport process. Conversely, lower resistivity and higher load pressure can reduce the contact resistance, thereby decreasing the surface charges caused by contact electrification and leading to a BEF dominant carrier transport process. This work contributes to deeper understandings of the tribovoltaic effect and further clarifies the theoretical mechanisms of carrier excitation and directional transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocean waves are one of the most promising renewable energy sources for large‐scope applications. Recently, triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) network has been demonstrated to effectively harvest water wave energy possibly toward large‐scale blue energy. However, the absence of effective power management severely restricts the practicability of TENGs. In this work, a hexagonal TENG network consisting of spherical TENG units based on spring‐assisted multilayered structure, integrated with a power management module (PMM), is constructed for harvesting water wave energy. The output performance of the TENG network is found to be determined by water wave frequencies and amplitudes, as well as the wave type. Moreover, with the implemented PMM, the TENG network could output a steady and continuous direct current (DC) voltage on the load resistance, and the stored energy is dramatically improved by up to 96 times for charging a capacitor. The TENG network integrated with the PMM is also applied to effectively power a digital thermometer and a wireless transmitter. The thermometer can constantly measure the water temperature with the water wave motions, and the transmitter can send signals that enable an alarm to go off once every 10 s. This study extends the application of the power management module in the water wave energy harvesting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tribotronics has attracted great attention as a new research field that encompasses the control and tuning of semiconductor transport by triboelectricity. Here, tribotronics is reviewed in terms of active mechanosensation and human–machine interfacing. As a fundamental unit, contact electrification field‐effect transistors are analyzed, in which the triboelectric potential can be used to control electrical transport in semiconductors. Several tribotronic functional devices have been developed for active control and information sensing, which has demonstrated triboelectricity‐controlled electronics and established active mechanosensation for the external environment. In addition, the universal triboelectric power management strategy and the triboelectric nanogenerator‐based constant sources are also reviewed, in which triboelectricity can be managed by electronics in the reverse action. With the implantation of triboelectric power management modules, the harvested triboelectricity by various kinds of human kinetic and environmental mechanical energy can be effectively managed as a power supply for self‐powered microsystems. In terms of the research prospects for interactions between triboelectricity and semiconductors, tribotronics is expected to demonstrate significant impact and potential applications in micro‐electro‐mechanical systems/nano‐electro‐mechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS), flexible electronics, robotics, wireless sensor network, and Internet of Things. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]