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The emergence of fibrous energy harvesters and self‐powered sensors gives birth to functional wearable electronics. However, low power outputs, poor sensing abilities, and limited material selections have greatly restricted their developments. Herein, novel polycation‐modified carbon dots (PCDs) tailored PCDs/polyvinyl alcohol nanocomposite polymer electrolytes (NPEs) are prepared and used as dominating triboelectric materials to construct a new NPEs‐based fiber triboelectric nanogenerator (NPE‐TENG) for the first time. The filling of PCDs endows NPEs with enhanced ionic conductivity. The developed NPE‐TENG can respond to different mechanical stimuli with excellent flexibility and deliver a high power density of 265.8 µW m−1. Self‐powered wearable sensor and smart glove based on NPE‐TENG are further developed, which can achieve skin‐level tactile sensing and joint‐related activities monitoring in a rapid, real‐time, and noninvasive way. As a sustainable power source, the NPE‐TENG can drive small electronics and light up hundreds of light‐emitting diodes. This study not only renders new insights into the development of triboelectric materials for fiber‐based TENG but also provides a direction for potential applications of fibrous biomechanical energy harvesters and self‐powered sensors in wearable electronics, personal healthcare monitoring, and human–machine interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tribopositive, scalable, and biocompatible materials are highly desired for high‐performance triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). In this study, polyethylenimine (PEI) functionalized N‐doped carbon dots (NCDs‐PEI) are synthesized and a novel approach to develop high‐output TENGs by incorporating high permittivity NCDs‐PEI into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as the tribopositive composite (CPP composite) is proposed for the first time. By systematically manipulating the mass ratio of NCDs/PVA and PEI‐functionalized concentration, the optimized CPP composite‐based TENGs (CPP‐TENGs) reveal a remarkable enhancement in power density by 28.5 times as compared with pure PVA‐based TENGs. The considerable electric outputs of CPP‐TENGs can be attributed to the synergistic effect of interfacial polarization enhanced permittivity of CPP composite and boosted surface charge density induced by dual charge transfer pathways. Moreover, CPP‐TENGs present superior high‐output stability, durability, and humidity‐resistance, and can also effectively drive electronics at different humidity and monitor human body movements. This work renders a simple, feasible, and scalable pathway to boost the electrical performance of TENGs for biomotion energy harvesting as well as providing insights for exploiting novel tribomaterials in the development of high‐output TENGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are widely used as a novel kind of sustainable energy harvesting technique. The materials used for TENGs are diverse that include polymers, metals, inorganic and composite materials, etc. However, most of these materials are not recyclable and thus may potentially cause environmental problems. Therefore, this review aims to summarize and discuss sustainable TENGs based on recyclable materials that are largely in line with the sustainable development of our society. Specifically, this review summarizes the current progress in recycled materials based TENGs (RM-TENGs), involving the design, fabrication, evaluation and application of TENGs that are made from recycled materials. First, the current recycling methods for recycled materials are overviewed and the basic procedures in practice are outlined. Then, the energy harvesting and sensing applications of RM-TENGs are critically reviewed and discussed under different classifications of recycled materials. Their potential applications are also demonstrated. Finally, we provide perspectives on the challenges and potential solutions associated with the next-generation recycled-material based TENGs. Using recycled materials to fabricate TENG can break through the existing material limitations of TENGs, and more importantly, create a high level of sustainability by generating sustainable and renewable energies from waste materials. [Display omitted] • A review on recycled materials based TNEGs (RM-TENGs) is presented. • The fundaments, advances and challenges of RM-TENGs are analyzed. • The development of recycled materials in TENGs is summarized. • Challenges and perspectives of RM-TENGs are put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accompanying the boom in smart wearable electronics, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) as burgeoning mechanical-to-electrical harvesters have drawn expanding interest. In this study, a kind of novel flexible, high-output TENGs with PAN/FCNT as tribopositive layer and PVDF/PDMS/TiO 2 as tribonegative layer have been designed and developed. For a synergistic effect, PAN and PVDF possessing strongly polar -C N and -F groups are handpicked as dielectric hosts to ensure maximum charge induction and triboelectrification. Highly conductive FCNT is introduced into the insulated PAN tribopositive layer, serving as the charge transport path to reduce surface charge loss. Additional PDMS is beneficial to strengthen the triboelectronegativity of PVDF tribonegative layer, and engaged as the charge trapping sites to diminish electro-discharge in air. TiO 2 is employed as filler to build an inorganic-organic (TiO 2 -PVDF/PDMS) composite dielectric layer because of its triple functions of potent electron capture, high dielectric constant, and promoting the formation of electroactive β-phase PVDF. Meanwhile, the hydrogen bonds between PVDF, TiO 2 with semi-crosslinked PDMS can stabilize interface and enhance friction output. Consequently, the assembled TENGs exhibit an ultra-high peak-to-peak voltage of 2088 V and a maximum output power of 7.2 W/m2, which shows promising applications in energy supplying and self-powered sensing fields. [Display omitted] Table of Contents PAN and PVDF possessing strongly polar -C N and -F groups are handpicked as dielectric hosts to ensure maximum charge induction and triboelectrification. For positive tribo-layer, highly conductive FCNT is introduced into the insulated PAN, serving as the charge transport path to reduce surface charge loss. For negative tribo-layer, the added organic PDMS is beneficial to strengthen the triboelectronegativity, and doped inorganic TiO 2 has the triple functions of potent electron capture and high dielectric constant, and promoting the formation of electroactive β-phase PVDF. It is demonstrated that adding inorganic and organic fillers simultaneously can have a greater synergistic enhancement effect on the magnification of TENG output. • FCNT is filled into the PAN tribopositive layer as the charge transport path. • PDMS is introduced to reinforce the electronegativity of PVDF tribonegative layer. • TiO 2 is employed as an inorganic filler to be potent electron capture sites. • TiO 2 facilitate the formation of highly polar crystalline β-phase PVDF nanofibers. • Intermolecular hydrogen bonds formed between PVDF, TiO 2 and semi-crosslinked PDMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ultra-stretchable MWCNTs:SCCB/SIS (MSSS) fiber-shaped smart electronic is developed with a bioinspired bis-condensed structure. The synergistic and tunneling effect of a well-balanced dual-carbon polymer nanocomposite is studied which exhibited significant stretchability and sensitivity against deformation. In this regard, as a stretchable sensor, the MSSS fiber possesses excellent stretchability, conductivity, conductive stability, high sensitivity, a wide sensing range, and good durability. Furthermore, it can be fabricated as a fiber-based triboelectric nanogenerator, MSSS-TENG, with outstanding electric output performance. It shows promising potential in various applications, including health and physiological detection, biomechanical energy harvesting, and self-powered sensing. [Display omitted] • Design of a fiber-based hybrid smart electronic based on bioinspired structures. • Study of a highly stretchable and conductive carbon-based polymer composite. • Exhibit ultra-stretchability, good conductivity, high sensitivity at a wide range. • Applications in health monitoring, energy harvesting, self-powered sensing. Highly stretchable and multifunctional wearable electronics have shown a desirable attraction recently. However, most fiber-based devices are hindered by the dilemma of stretchability and sensitivity, as well as the decline of performance due to delamination. Herein, a bis-condensed inspired ultra-stretchable dual-carbon fiber (MSSS fiber) is proposed based on the synergistic interaction and tunneling effect of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs)-superconductive carbon black (SCCB)-poly[styrene- b -isoprene- b -styrene] (SIS) conductive polymer composite (CPC) and a strong interlocked layer-by-layer structure. The MSSS fiber is developed as a strain sensor with good electric conductivity and stability, ultra-stretchability, high sensitivity (GF = 1,096 at 1,100 %), and good durability (10,000 at 1,000 %) which shows excellent sensing for various motion applications. Simultaneously, the MSSS fiber is also exploited as a single-electrode fiber-based triboelectric nanogenerator (F-TENG) by triboelectric material coating. It demonstrates a significant output power, good durability over 25,000 cycles and stable electric output performance under high-level deformation (600 %), endowing its reliability as a power source supply and self-powered sensing device. This ultra-stretchable conductive fiber further explores the development of multifunctional subtle wearable electronics. The applications of healthcare sensing and energy harvesting also give promising potential in the field of smart wearable electronics, human–computer interaction, and artificial intelligence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]