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MXene‐based Zn‐ion capacitors (ZICs) with adsorption‐type and battery‐type electrodes demonstrate high energy storage and anti‐self‐discharge capabilities, potentially being paired with triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) to construct self‐powered systems. Nevertheless, inadequate interlayer spacing, deficient active sites, and compact self‐restacking of MXene flakes pose hurdles for MXene‐based ZICs, limiting their applications. Herein, black phosphorus (BP)‐Zn‐MXene hybrid is formulated for MXene‐based ZIC via a two‐step molecular engineering strategy of Zn‐ion pre‐intercalation and BP nanosheet assembly. Zn ions as intercalators induce cross‐linking of MXene flakes with expandable interlayer spacing to serve as scaffolds for BP nanosheets, thereby providing sufficient accessible active sites and efficient migration routes for enhanced Zn‐ion storage. The density functional theory calculations affirm that zinc adsorption and diffusion kinetics are significantly improved in the hybrid. A wearable ZIC with the hybrid delivers a competitive areal energy of 426.3 µWh cm−2 and ultra‐low self‐discharge rate of 7.0 mV h−1, achieving remarkable electrochemical matching with TENGs in terms of low energy loss, matched capacity, and fast Zn‐ion storage. The resultant self‐powered system efficiently collects and stores energy from human motion to power microelectronics. This work advances the Zn‐ion storage of MXene‐based ZICs and their synergy with TENG in self‐powered systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Micronanoelectronic Technology is the property of Micronanoelectronic Technology Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This work aims to provide the hardware (HW) design of the optoelectronics interfaces for a visible-light communication (VLC) system that can be employed for several use cases. Potential applications include the transmission of ultra-high-definition (UHD) streaming video through existing reading lamps installed in passenger vans. In this use case, visible light is employed for the downlink, while infrared light is used for the uplink channel, acting as a remote controller. Two primary components -a Light Fidelity (LiFi) router and a USB dongle—were designed and implemented. The 'LiFi Router', handling the downlink channel, comprises components such as a visible Light-Emitting Diode (LED) and an infrared receiver. Operating at a supply voltage of 12 V and consuming current at 920 mA, it is compatible with standard voltage buses found in transport vehicles. The 'USB dongle', responsible for the uplink, incorporates an infrared LED and a receiver optimized for visible light. The USB dongle works at a supply voltage of 5 V and shows a current consumption of 1.12 A, making it well suited for direct connection to a universal serial bus (USB) port. The bandwidth achieved for the downlink is 11.66 MHz, while the uplink's bandwidth is 12.27 MHz. A system competent at streaming UHD video with the feature of being single-input multiple-output (SIMO) was successfully implemented via the custom hardware design of the optical transceivers and optoelectronics interfaces. To ensure the system's correct performance at a distance of 110 cm, the minimum signal-to-noise ratio (SNRmin) for both optical links was maintained at 10.74 dB. We conducted a proof-of-concept test of the VLC system in a passenger van and verified its optimal operation, effectively illustrating its performance in a real operating environment. Exemplifying potential implementations possible with the hardware system designed in this work, a bit rate of 15.2 Mbps was reached with On–Off Keying (OOK), and 11.25 Mbps was obtained with Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) using Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) obtaining a bit-error rate (BER) of 3.3259 × 10−5 in a passenger van at a distance of 72.5 cm between the LiFi router and the USB dongle. As a final addition, a solar panel was installed on the passenger van's roof to power the user's laptop and the USB dongle via a power bank battery. It took 13.4 h to charge the battery, yielding a battery life of 22.3 h. This characteristic renders the user's side of the system entirely self-powered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most advanced hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts show high activity under alkaline conditions. However, the performance deteriorates at a natural and acidic pH, which is often problematic in practical applications. Herein, a rhenium (Re) sulfide–transition‐metal dichalcogenide heterojunction catalyst with Re‐rich vacancies (NiS2‐ReS2‐V) has been constructed. The optimized catalyst shows extraordinary electrocatalytic HER performance over a wide range of pH, with ultralow overpotentials of 42, 85, and 122 mV under alkaline, acidic, and neutral conditions, respectively. Moreover, the two‐electrode system with NiS2‐ReS2‐V1 as the cathode provides a voltage of 1.73 V at 500 mA cm−2, superior to industrial systems. Besides, the open‐circuit voltage of a single Zn–H2O cell with NiS2‐ReS2‐V1 as the cathode can reach an impressive 90.9% of the theoretical value, with a maximum power density of up to 31.6 mW cm−2. Moreover, it shows remarkable stability, with sustained discharge for approximately 120 h at 10 mA cm−2, significantly outperforming commercial Pt/C catalysts under the same conditions in all aspects. A series of systematic characterizations and theoretical calculations demonstrate that Re vacancies on the heterojunction interface would generate a stronger built‐in electric field, which profoundly affects surface charge distribution and subsequently enhances HER performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Micronanoelectronic Technology is the property of Micronanoelectronic Technology Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract MXene‐based Zn‐ion capacitors (ZICs) with adsorption‐type and battery‐type electrodes demonstrate high energy storage and anti‐self‐discharge capabilities, potentially being paired with triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) to construct self‐powered systems. Nevertheless, inadequate interlayer spacing, deficient active sites, and compact self‐restacking of MXene flakes pose hurdles for MXene‐based ZICs, limiting their applications. Herein, black phosphorus (BP)‐Zn‐MXene hybrid is formulated for MXene‐based ZIC via a two‐step molecular engineering strategy of Zn‐ion pre‐intercalation and BP nanosheet assembly. Zn ions as intercalators induce cross‐linking of MXene flakes with expandable interlayer spacing to serve as scaffolds for BP nanosheets, thereby providing sufficient accessible active sites and efficient migration routes for enhanced Zn‐ion storage. The density functional theory calculations affirm that zinc adsorption and diffusion kinetics are significantly improved in the hybrid. A wearable ZIC with the hybrid delivers a competitive areal energy of 426.3 µWh cm−2 and ultra‐low self‐discharge rate of 7.0 mV h−1, achieving remarkable electrochemical matching with TENGs in terms of low energy loss, matched capacity, and fast Zn‐ion storage. The resultant self‐powered system efficiently collects and stores energy from human motion to power microelectronics. This work advances the Zn‐ion storage of MXene‐based ZICs and their synergy with TENG in self‐powered systems.

Ferroelectric materials, with their spontaneous electric polarization, are renewing research enthusiasm for their deployment in high-performance micro/nano energy harvesting devices such as triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). Here, the introduction of ferroelectric materials into the triboelectric interface not only significantly enhances the energy harvesting efficiency, but also drives TENGs into the era of intelligence and integration. The primary objective of the following paper is to tackle the newest innovations in TENGs based on ferroelectric materials. For this purpose, we begin with discussing the fundamental idea and then introduce the current progress with TENGs that are built on the base of ferroelectric materials. Various strategies, such as surface engineering, either in the micro or nano scale, are discussed, along with the environmental factors. Although our focus is on the enhancement of energy harvesting efficiency and output power density by utilizing ferroelectric materials, we also highlight their incorporation in self-powered electronics and sensing systems, where we analyze the most favorable and currently accessible options in attaining device intelligence and multifunctionality. Finally, we present a detailed outlook on TENGs that are based on ferroelectric materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing ultrahigh‐strength fabric‐based triboelectric nanogenerators for harvesting high‐impact energy and sensing biomechanical signals is still a great challenge. Here, the constraints are addressed by design of a multistrand twisted triboelectric Kevlar (MTTK) yarn using conductive and non‐conductive Kevlar fibers. Manufactured using a multistrand twisting process, the MTTK yarn offers superior tensile strength (372 MPa), compared to current triboelectric yarns. In addition, a self‐powered impact sensing fabric patch (SP‐ISFP) comprising signal acquisition, processing, communication circuit, and MTTK yarns is integrated. The SP‐ISFP features withstanding impact (4 GPa) and a sensitivity and response time under the high impact condition (59.68 V GPa−1; 0.4 s). Furthermore, a multi‐channel smart bulletproof vest is developed by the array of 36 SP‐ISFPs, enabling the reconstruction of impact mapping and assessment of body injury location and levels by real‐time data acquisition. Their potential to reduce body injuries, professional security, and construct a multi‐point personal vital signs dynamic monitoring platform holds great promise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disc and cylinder‐based triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have great potential for harvesting wind energy. However, a significant challenge faced by these TENGs is the wear issues arising from the required close contact between tribo‐materials, especially at high frequencies. In response to this challenge, a gear‐slider TENG (GS‐TENG) is designed to transition from continuous close‐contact friction mode to intermittent contact. Working in unison with the central gear and two sliders, four units housed within GS‐TENG yield electrical output through periodic contact and separation. During a durability test of 845 000 cycles, the short‐circuit current only experiences a slight decrease, going from 25.38 to 24.03 µA, retaining 94.68% of its initial value. Operating at a matched impedance of 6 MΩ, GS‐TENG at M1 achieves a peak power density of 386 mW m−2, exceeding some previously proposed solutions in wind harvesting. When integrated into a wind speed sensing system, the GS‐TENG has a wide sensing range (13.1 to 28 m s−1) with a maximum error of 3.39%. This work demonstrates a rotation‐to‐translation strategy that lays the foundation for long‐term, high‐frequency wind energy harvesting and the development of a self‐powered wind sensing system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative analysis of gait parameters, such as stride frequency and step speed, is essential for optimizing physical exercise for the human body. However, the current electronic sensors used in human motion monitoring remain constrained by factors such as battery life and accuracy. This study developed a self‐powered gait analysis system (SGAS) based on a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) fabricated electrospun composite nanofibers for motion monitoring and gait analysis for regulating exercise programs. The SGAS consists of a sensing module, a charging module, a data acquisition and processing module, and an Internet of Things (IoT) platform. Within the sensing module, two specialized sensing units, TENG‐S1 and TENG‐S2, are positioned at the forefoot and heel to generate synchronized signals in tandem with the user's footsteps. These signals are instrumental for real‐time step count and step speed monitoring. The output of the two TENG units is significantly improved by systematically investigating and optimizing the electrospun composite nanofibers' composition, strength, and wear resistance. Additionally, a charge amplifier circuit is implemented to process the raw voltage signal, consequently bolstering the reliability of the sensing signal. This refined data is then ready for further reading and calculation by the micro‐controller unit (MCU) during the signal transmission process. Finally, the well‐conditioned signals are wirelessly transmitted to the IoT platform for data analysis, storage, and visualization, enhancing human motion monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tribovoltaic effect is a phenomenon of the generation of direct voltage and current by the mechanical friction on semiconductor interface, which exhibits a brand‐new energy conversion mechanism by the coupling of semiconductor and triboelectrification. Here, the origin, interfaces, characteristics, mechanism, coupling effect and application of the tribovoltaic effect is summarized and reviewed. The tribovoltaic effect is first proposed in 2019, which has developed in various forms tribovoltaic nanogenerator (TVNG) including metal‐semiconductor, metal‐insulator‐semiconductor, semiconductor‐semiconductor, liquid‐solid and flexible interfaces. Compared with triboelectric nanogenerator, the TVNG has the characteristics of direct‐current, high current density (mA‐A cm−2) and low impedance (Ω‐kΩ). The two mainstream views on the tribovoltaic generation mechanism, one dominated by built‐in electric fields and the other dominated by interface electric fields, have been elaborated and summarized in detail. The tribo‐photovoltaic effect and tribo‐thermoelectric effect are also discovered and introduced because they can easily interact with other multi‐physical field effects. The TVNGs are suitable for making energy harvesting and self‐powered sensing devices for micro‐nano energy applications. This paper not only revisit the development of the tribovoltaic effect, but also makes prospects for mechanism research, device fabrication and integrated application, which can accelerate the evolution of smart wearable electronics and intelligent industrial components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the use of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) in environmental monitoring and pollutant treatment. TENGs can harness mechanical energy from the environment to power self-contained systems for wastewater purification in remote areas. The article also discusses the use of piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) for energy harvesting and water treatment. Both TENGs and PENGs have the potential to revolutionize wastewater treatment and environmental monitoring, but there are challenges that need to be addressed. The article provides valuable insights into the application of TENGs in environmental monitoring and highlights their potential for sustainable energy harvesting. [Extracted from the article]

Abstract Most advanced hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts show high activity under alkaline conditions. However, the performance deteriorates at a natural and acidic pH, which is often problematic in practical applications. Herein, a rhenium (Re) sulfide–transition‐metal dichalcogenide heterojunction catalyst with Re‐rich vacancies (NiS2‐ReS2‐V) has been constructed. The optimized catalyst shows extraordinary electrocatalytic HER performance over a wide range of pH, with ultralow overpotentials of 42, 85, and 122 mV under alkaline, acidic, and neutral conditions, respectively. Moreover, the two‐electrode system with NiS2‐ReS2‐V1 as the cathode provides a voltage of 1.73 V at 500 mA cm−2, superior to industrial systems. Besides, the open‐circuit voltage of a single Zn–H2O cell with NiS2‐ReS2‐V1 as the cathode can reach an impressive 90.9% of the theoretical value, with a maximum power density of up to 31.6 mW cm−2. Moreover, it shows remarkable stability, with sustained discharge for approximately 120 h at 10 mA cm−2, significantly outperforming commercial Pt/C catalysts under the same conditions in all aspects. A series of systematic characterizations and theoretical calculations demonstrate that Re vacancies on the heterojunction interface would generate a stronger built‐in electric field, which profoundly affects surface charge distribution and subsequently enhances HER performance.

A RepNet-based wireless self-powered sensor system is designed by just two components with deep learning algorithm, which has simple structure and high accuracy even without integrated circuit. Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) directly power the artificial intelligence sensor, and the algorithm extracts and encodes the convolutional features and local temporal information from a video. To test this model, we assemble a test dataset of 192 videos, comprising 32 frequencies of TENG. We then show the real-time detection backend based on the RepNet. This deep-learning-based backend also works well and demonstrates great feasibility and potential in the applications such as counting the number of LED flashing, estimating the possibility of LED flashing and detecting the changes of frequency. It is a potential and novel approach for sensing and transmited information of TENG-based self-powered sensors.

[Display omitted] • FC@NF and T@CF were prepared by LBL self-assembly and soaking methods, respectively. • Fire-retardant performance and mechanism of FC@NF were investigated. • FCF-TENG was fabricated for self-powered sensing in fire scenarios. The fabrics commonly used in architectural decorative materials pose significant fire hazards due to their flammability and rapid fire spread. Moreover, the traditional fire-alarm systems may fail to function properly in complex fire environments owing to power supply disruptions. In this study, we developed a low-cost and eco-friendly flame-retardant conductive fabric-based triboelectric nanogenerator (FCF-TENG) by integrating flame-retardant conductive nylon fabric and polytetrafluoroethylene soaked cotton fabric. This nanogenerator exhibits excellent flame-retardant properties and remarkable energy-harvesting capabilities. The nylon fabric, treated with layer-by-layer self-assembly method, possesses outstanding self-extinguishing capability and melt-dripping resistance. Additionally, the electrical performance of FCF-TENG significantly improves, with a 10-fold boost in conductivity, and the open-circuit voltage increases by 84% to 92 V. Besides, by incorporating the rectifier circuit, the FCF-TENG is capable of completely charging a 1 μF capacitor within 30 s. Furthermore, the FCF-TENG was successfully applied as a self-powered sensor in the fire-alarm system and served as a safety exit indicator for evacuees and fire rescue. This work presents an effective and innovative application of multifunctional smart textiles for energy harvesting and self-powered sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power supply is playing an increasingly important role in the rapidly developing era of the Internet of Things. Achieving a sustainable and clean power supply for electronic devices is an urgent and challenging task. In this study, we present a heat-triggered triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) and develop a self-powered fire alarm system to achieve an early warning without an external power supply. A TENG comprises a gear system that can utilize the elastic potential energy of a spring. A wax block was used as a heat trigger. When melted at high temperatures, the TENG will be triggered to work and generate considerable electric energy. Within a single operation cycle of approximately 6 s, a 22 μ F capacitor can be charged up to 3.7 V. Such electrical energy is sufficient to drive a wireless transmission module through an automatic switching circuit. Overall, this study provides a feasible approach for a self-powered wireless warning system in power-shortage areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Developing ultrahigh‐strength fabric‐based triboelectric nanogenerators for harvesting high‐impact energy and sensing biomechanical signals is still a great challenge. Here, the constraints are addressed by design of a multistrand twisted triboelectric Kevlar (MTTK) yarn using conductive and non‐conductive Kevlar fibers. Manufactured using a multistrand twisting process, the MTTK yarn offers superior tensile strength (372 MPa), compared to current triboelectric yarns. In addition, a self‐powered impact sensing fabric patch (SP‐ISFP) comprising signal acquisition, processing, communication circuit, and MTTK yarns is integrated. The SP‐ISFP features withstanding impact (4 GPa) and a sensitivity and response time under the high impact condition (59.68 V GPa−1; 0.4 s). Furthermore, a multi‐channel smart bulletproof vest is developed by the array of 36 SP‐ISFPs, enabling the reconstruction of impact mapping and assessment of body injury location and levels by real‐time data acquisition. Their potential to reduce body injuries, professional security, and construct a multi‐point personal vital signs dynamic monitoring platform holds great promise.

Abstract Quantitative analysis of gait parameters, such as stride frequency and step speed, is essential for optimizing physical exercise for the human body. However, the current electronic sensors used in human motion monitoring remain constrained by factors such as battery life and accuracy. This study developed a self‐powered gait analysis system (SGAS) based on a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) fabricated electrospun composite nanofibers for motion monitoring and gait analysis for regulating exercise programs. The SGAS consists of a sensing module, a charging module, a data acquisition and processing module, and an Internet of Things (IoT) platform. Within the sensing module, two specialized sensing units, TENG‐S1 and TENG‐S2, are positioned at the forefoot and heel to generate synchronized signals in tandem with the user's footsteps. These signals are instrumental for real‐time step count and step speed monitoring. The output of the two TENG units is significantly improved by systematically investigating and optimizing the electrospun composite nanofibers' composition, strength, and wear resistance. Additionally, a charge amplifier circuit is implemented to process the raw voltage signal, consequently bolstering the reliability of the sensing signal. This refined data is then ready for further reading and calculation by the micro‐controller unit (MCU) during the signal transmission process. Finally, the well‐conditioned signals are wirelessly transmitted to the IoT platform for data analysis, storage, and visualization, enhancing human motion monitoring.

Abstract Tribovoltaic effect is a phenomenon of the generation of direct voltage and current by the mechanical friction on semiconductor interface, which exhibits a brand‐new energy conversion mechanism by the coupling of semiconductor and triboelectrification. Here, the origin, interfaces, characteristics, mechanism, coupling effect and application of the tribovoltaic effect is summarized and reviewed. The tribovoltaic effect is first proposed in 2019, which has developed in various forms tribovoltaic nanogenerator (TVNG) including metal‐semiconductor, metal‐insulator‐semiconductor, semiconductor‐semiconductor, liquid‐solid and flexible interfaces. Compared with triboelectric nanogenerator, the TVNG has the characteristics of direct‐current, high current density (mA‐A cm−2) and low impedance (Ω‐kΩ). The two mainstream views on the tribovoltaic generation mechanism, one dominated by built‐in electric fields and the other dominated by interface electric fields, have been elaborated and summarized in detail. The tribo‐photovoltaic effect and tribo‐thermoelectric effect are also discovered and introduced because they can easily interact with other multi‐physical field effects. The TVNGs are suitable for making energy harvesting and self‐powered sensing devices for micro‐nano energy applications. This paper not only revisit the development of the tribovoltaic effect, but also makes prospects for mechanism research, device fabrication and integrated application, which can accelerate the evolution of smart wearable electronics and intelligent industrial components.

To meet the practical demand of wearable/portable electronics, developing high-efficiency and durable multifunctional catalyst and in-situ assembling catalysts into electrodes with flexible features are urgently needed but challenging. Herein, we report a simple route to fabricate bendable multifunctional electrodes by in-situ carbonization of metal ion absorbed polyaniline precursor. Alloy nanoparticles encapsulated in graphite layer are uniformly distributed in the N-doping carbon nanorod skeleton. Profiting from the favorable free-standing structure and the cooperative effect of metallic nanoparticles, graphitic layer and N doped-carbon architecture, the trifunctional electrodes exhibit prominent activities and stability toward HER, OER and ORR. Notably, due to the protection of carbon layer, the electrocatalysts show the reversible catalytic HER/OER properties. The overall water splitting device can continuously work for 12 h under frequent exchanges of cathode and anode. Importantly, the bendable metal air batteries fabricated by self-supported electrode not only displays the outstanding battery performance, achieving a decent peak power density (125 mW cm−2) and exhibiting favorable charge-discharge durability of 22 h, but also holds superb flexible stability. Specially, a lightweight self-driven water splitting unit is demonstrated with stable hydrogen production.

This work aims to provide the hardware (HW) design of the optoelectronics interfaces for a visible-light communication (VLC) system that can be employed for several use cases. Potential applications include the transmission of ultra-high-definition (UHD) streaming video through existing reading lamps installed in passenger vans. In this use case, visible light is employed for the downlink, while infrared light is used for the uplink channel, acting as a remote controller. Two primary components -a Light Fidelity (LiFi) router and a USB dongle—were designed and implemented. The ‘LiFi Router’, handling the downlink channel, comprises components such as a visible Light-Emitting Diode (LED) and an infrared receiver. Operating at a supply voltage of 12 V and consuming current at 920 mA, it is compatible with standard voltage buses found in transport vehicles. The ‘USB dongle’, responsible for the uplink, incorporates an infrared LED and a receiver optimized for visible light. The USB dongle works at a supply voltage of 5 V and shows a current consumption of 1.12 A, making it well suited for direct connection to a universal serial bus (USB) port. The bandwidth achieved for the downlink is 11.66 MHz, while the uplink’s bandwidth is 12.27 MHz. A system competent at streaming UHD video with the feature of being single-input multiple-output (SIMO) was successfully implemented via the custom hardware design of the optical transceivers and optoelectronics interfaces. To ensure the system’s correct performance at a distance of 110 cm, the minimum signal-to-noise ratio (SNRmin) for both optical links was maintained at 10.74 dB. We conducted a proof-of-concept test of the VLC system in a passenger van and verified its optimal operation, effectively illustrating its performance in a real operating environment. Exemplifying potential implementations possible with the hardware system designed in this work, a bit rate of 15.2 Mbps was reached with On–Off Keying (OOK), and 11.25 Mbps was obtained with Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) using Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) obtaining a bit-error rate (BER) of 3.3259 × 10−5 in a passenger van at a distance of 72.5 cm between the LiFi router and the USB dongle. As a final addition, a solar panel was installed on the passenger van’s roof to power the user’s laptop and the USB dongle via a power bank battery. It took 13.4 h to charge the battery, yielding a battery life of 22.3 h. This characteristic renders the user’s side of the system entirely self-powered.

Converting spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and industrial wastewater into high-value-added substances by advanced electrocatalytic technology is important for sustainable energy development and environmental protection. Here, we propose a self-powered system using a home-made sulfide fuel cell (SFC) to power a two-electrode electrocatalytic sulfion oxidation reaction (SOR)-assisted hydrogen (H2) production electrolyzer (ESHPE), in which the sulfion-containing wastewater is used as the liquid fuel to produce clean water, sulfur, and hydrogen. The catalysts for the self-powered system are mainly prepared from spent LIBs to reduce the cost, such as the bifunctional Co9S8 catalyst was prepared from spent LiCoO2 for SOR and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The Fe-N-P codoped coral-like carbon nanotube arrays encapsulated Fe2P (C-ZIF/sLFP) catalyst was prepared from spent LiFePO4 for oxygen reduction reaction. The Co9S8 catalyst shows excellent catalytic activities in both SOR and HER, evidenced by the low cell voltage of 0.426 V at 20 mA cm-2 in ESHPE. The SFC with Co9S8 as anode and C-ZIF/sLFP as cathode exhibits an open-circuit voltage of 0.69 V and long discharge stability for 300 h at 20 mA cm-2. By integrating the SFC and ESHPE, the self-powered system delivers an impressive hydrogen production rate of 0.44 mL cm-2 min-1. This work constructs a self-powered system with high-performance catalysts prepared from spent LIBs to transform sulfion-containing wastewater into purified water and prepare hydrogen, which is promising to achieve high economic efficiency, environmental remediation, and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multidirectional irregular breaking wave is the most prominent feature of the ocean surface and bears tremendous amounts of sustainable high‐entropy energy. However, the commercial utilization and harvesting efficiency are very limited low due to its low‐frequency and low‐amplitude. Here, a swing self‐regulated triboelectric nanogenerator (SSR‐TENG) is proposed, which can convert collected low‐grade breaking waves energy into electrical energy by regulating the oscillation frequency and resonance effect. Benefiting from simple and efficient structural strategy, SSR‐TENG outputs a peak power of 0.14 mW under wave height range of 6–11 cm, that the open‐circuit voltage, short‐circuit current and transferred charge increases is 5.8, 4, and 3.7 times compared to without self‐regulated design, respectively. This work gives a practical solution to the problems faced by harvesting high‐entropy ocean breaking waves energy, which exhibits large potential for building the self‐powered ocean assessment and meteorology system in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along with the continuous aging of the population, various diseases have brought a great threat to human health and a large economic burden. The development of advanced medical devices has gained global attention for disease treatment. Electrical stimulation refers to stimulation and treatment of cells by high output voltage, which is an important rehabilitation and therapeutic strategy in medical treatment. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), which are lightweight and feature high-voltage output and flexible structure, have drawn great attention in the field of disease treatment for health care. The conversion of the body's mechanical energy into electrical pulses to stimulate cells for health treatment through TENG has promising applications. Using uniquely designed TENGs to convert human mechanical energy into electrical impulses to stimulate cells is considered a promising health treatment. Here, we review the recent progress of TENG-based electrical stimulation for disease treatments, focusing on the structure, materials, and performances of the TENGs used in diverse facets of healthcare. More importantly, we systematically discuss the application of TENG-based electrical stimulation in wound healing, osteoblast proliferation and differentiation, muscle stimulation, nerve stimulation, and pacemakers. Finally, several developmental challenges of and prospective solutions for TENG-based electrical stimulation are discussed and summarized in light of recent advances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sensors based on triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have gained worldwide interest owing to their advantages of low cost and self‐powering. However, the detection of most triboelectric vibration sensors (TVS) is restricted to low frequency, whereas high‐frequency vibration signals are successfully measured in recent studies; their sensitivity still requires improvement. Hence, a highly sensitive vibration sensor based on TENG (HSVS‐TENG) with ultrawide frequency response is presented. This study is the first to introduce a quasi‐zero stiffness structure into the TENG to minimize the driving force by optimizing the magnetic induction intensity and the weight of the moving part. The results show that the HSVS‐TENG can measure vibrations with frequencies ranging from 2.5 to 4000 Hz, with a sensitivity ranging from 0.32 to 134.9 V g−1. Moreover, the sensor exhibits a good linear response versus the applied acceleration, and the linearity ranges from 0.08 to 2.81 V g−1. The self‐powered sensor can monitor the running state and fault type of the key components with a recognition accuracy of 98.9% by leveraging machine‐learning algorithms. The results reach a new height for the ultrawide frequency response and high sensitivity of the TVS and provide an idea for a follow‐up high‐resolution TVS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex process of wound healing depends on the coordinated interaction between various immunological and biological systems, which can be aided by technology. This present review provides a broad overview of the medical applications of piezoelectric and triboelectric nanogenerators, focusing on their role in the development of wound healing technology. Based on the finding that the damaged epithelial layer of the wound generates an endogenous bioelectric field to regulate the wound healing process, development of technological device for providing an exogenous electric field has therefore been paid attention. Authors of this review focus on the design and application of piezoelectric and triboelectric materials to manufacture self-powered nanogenerators, and conclude with an outlook on the current challenges and future potential in meeting medical needs and commercialization.

Efficient harvesting and storage of dispersed irregular energy from the environment are crucial to the demand for the distributed devices of the Internet of Things (IoTs). Here, a carbon felt (CF)‐based energy conversion‐storage‐supply integrated system (CECIS) that contains a CF‐based solid‐state supercapacitor (CSSC) and a CF‐based triboelectric nanogenerator (C‐TENG) is presented, which is capable of simultaneously energy storage and conversion. The simple treated CF not only delivers a maximal specific capacitance of 402.4 F g−1 but also prominent supercapacitor characteristics with fast charge and slow discharge, enabling 38 LEDs successfully lightened for more than 900 s after a wireless charging time of only 2 s. With the original CF as the sensing layer, buffer layer, and current collector of C‐TENG, the maximal power of 91.5 mW is attained. The CECIS shows a competitive output performance. The time ratio of the duration of supply energy to the harvesting and storage reaches 9.6:1, meaning that it is competent for the continuous energy application when the effective working time of C‐TENG is longer than one‐tenth of the whole day. This study not only highlights the great potential of CECIS in sustainable energy harvesting and storage but also lays the foundation for the ultimate realization of IoTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have garnered considerable interest as a promising technology for energy harvesting and stimulus sensing. While TENGs facilitate the generation of electricity from micro-motions, the modular design of TENG-based modular sensing systems (TMSs) also offers significant potential for powering biosensors and other medical devices, thus reducing dependence on external power sources and enabling biological processes to be monitored in real time. Moreover, TENGs can be customised and personalized to address individual patient needs while ensuring biocompatibility and safety, ultimately enhancing the efficiency and security of diagnosis and treatment. In this review, we concentrate on recent advancements in the modular design of TMSs for clinical applications with an emphasis on their potential for personalised real-time diagnosis. We also examine the design and fabrication of TMSs, their sensitivity and specificity, and their capabilities of detecting biomarkers for disease diagnosis and monitoring. Furthermore, we investigate the application of TENGs to energy harvesting and real-time monitoring in wearable and implantable medical devices, underscore the promising prospects of personalised and modular TMSs in advancing real-time diagnosis for clinical applications, and offer insights into the future direction of this burgeoning field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For improving charge density and sensitivity at the large strain , a high-performance elastic-material-based triboelectric nanogenerators with the large-strain was developed based on a novel gradient nano-doping strategy, which via gradient electrical field caused by the inhomogeneous concentration field of PTFE nanoparticles in sponge materials, that enabled for self-powered pressure sensing in smart boxing equipment and athletic big data analytics. [Display omitted] Elastic-material-based triboelectric nanogenerators (EMB-TENGs) are most effective to harvest random (low frequency, low amplitude) and distributed mechanical energy. However, the low output of EMB-TENGs caused by drastic charge attenuation and low sensitivity limits its applications. Here, we propose a gradient nano-doping strategy to boost the charge density and sensitivity of triboelectric sponge materials via the gradient electrical field caused by the inhomogeneous concentration field of polytetrafluoroethylene nanoparticles. The triboelectric charge density (537 μC·m−3) and the peak power density (732.6 mW·m−3) is increased by 1.2 times and 1.8 times. A sensitivity of 1.851 kPa−1 is successfully realized at 50% compressive strain. From this, a self-powered smart boxing bag with functions of both the force analysis and real-time counting statistic was developed at the large strain. This work presents a new method for design and development of triboelectric materials, as well as expanding the functionalities and applications of self-powered system combining with the EMB-TENGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart responsive materials can react to external stimuli via a reversible mechanism and can be directly combined with a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) to deliver various intelligent applications, such as sensors, actuators, robots, artificial muscles, and controlled drug delivery. Not only that, mechanical energy in the reversible response of innovative materials can be scavenged and transformed into decipherable electrical signals. Because of the high dependence of amplitude and frequency on environmental stimuli, self-powered intelligent systems may be thus built and present an immediate response to stress, electrical current, temperature, magnetic field, or even chemical compounds. This review summarizes the recent research progress of smart TENGs based on stimulus-response materials. After briefly introducing the working principle of TENG, we discuss the implementation of smart materials in TENGs with a classification of several sub-groups: shape-memory alloy, piezoelectric materials, magneto-rheological, and electro-rheological materials. While we focus on their design strategy and function collaboration, applications in robots, clinical treatment, and sensors are described in detail to show the versatility and promising future of smart TNEGs. In the end, challenges and outlooks in this field are highlighted, with an aim to promote the integration of varied advanced intelligent technologies into compact, diverse functional packages in a self-powered mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) can not only collect mechanical energy around or inside the human body and convert it into electricity but also help monitor our body and the world by providing interpretable electrical signals during energy conversion, thus emerging as an innovative medical solution for both daily health monitoring and clinical treatment and bringing great convenience. This review tries to introduce the latest technological progress of TENGs for applications in biophysical sensors, where a TENG functions as a either a sensor or a power source, and in some cases, as both parts of a self-powered sensor system. From this perspective, this review begins from the fundamental working principles and then concisely illustrates the recent progress of TENGs given structural design, surface modification, and materials selection toward output enhancement and medical application flexibility. After this, the medical applications of TENGs in respiratory status, cardiovascular disease, and human rehabilitation are covered in detail, in the form of either textile or implantable parts for pacemakers, nerve stimulators, and nerve prostheses. In addition, the application of TENGs in driving third-party medical treatment systems is introduced. Finally, shortcomings and challenges in TENG-based biophysical sensors are highlighted, aiming to provide deeper insight into TENG-based medical solutions for the development of TENG-based self-powered electronics with higher performance for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid advancement of flexible electronics, conventional rigid batteries, which serve as energy devices for flexible electronics, are no longer capable of meeting developmental requirements. In this context, solar cells, as an eco-friendly, low-carbon, and sustainable energy technology, have gained significant recognition. This paper aims to design a flexible solar energy harvester (FSEH) based on laser direct writing. The FSEH is comprised of commercial PET/PI films, flexible Cu circuits, and amorphous silicon solar cells which provide excellent flexibility and sustainability. The FSEH was formed by soldering the solar collection array to the laser direct-written flexible Cu circuit by using solder paste. The solar energy harvesting array consists of six sets of series-connected amorphous silicon solar cell arrays, with each set comprised of six amorphous silicon solar cells connected in parallel. It has a maximum light collection area of about 2772 mm2. The designed FSEH could generate energy by harvesting light energy from lights or solar radiation. The FSEH outputs 0.437 mW at the light intensity of 3000 Lux and 1.813 mW at the light intensity of 10,000 Lux. The FSEH maintains an output efficiency of over 92% with a bending angle of less than 45°. Based on laser direct writing technology which enables efficient, convenient, and large-scale production of FSEH, the FSEH is expected to form a flexible self-powered system with flexible supercapacitors and wearable electronics, and FSEH offers great advantages for the sustainable development of wearable electronics and flexible sensors.

Abstract Sensors based on triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have gained worldwide interest owing to their advantages of low cost and self‐powering. However, the detection of most triboelectric vibration sensors (TVS) is restricted to low frequency, whereas high‐frequency vibration signals are successfully measured in recent studies; their sensitivity still requires improvement. Hence, a highly sensitive vibration sensor based on TENG (HSVS‐TENG) with ultrawide frequency response is presented. This study is the first to introduce a quasi‐zero stiffness structure into the TENG to minimize the driving force by optimizing the magnetic induction intensity and the weight of the moving part. The results show that the HSVS‐TENG can measure vibrations with frequencies ranging from 2.5 to 4000 Hz, with a sensitivity ranging from 0.32 to 134.9 V g−1. Moreover, the sensor exhibits a good linear response versus the applied acceleration, and the linearity ranges from 0.08 to 2.81 V g−1. The self‐powered sensor can monitor the running state and fault type of the key components with a recognition accuracy of 98.9% by leveraging machine‐learning algorithms. The results reach a new height for the ultrawide frequency response and high sensitivity of the TVS and provide an idea for a follow‐up high‐resolution TVS.

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) stand at the forefront of energy harvesting innovation, transforming mechanical energy into electrical power through triboelectrification and electrostatic induction. This groundbreaking technology addresses the urgent need for sustainable and renewable energy solutions, opening new avenues for self-powered systems. Despite their potential, TENGs face challenges such as material optimization for enhanced triboelectric effects, scalability, and improving conversion efficiency under varied conditions. Durability and environmental stability also pose significant hurdles, necessitating further research towards more resilient systems. Nature inspired TENG designs offer promising solutions by emulating biological processes and structures, such as the energy mechanisms of plants and the textured surfaces of animal skins. This biomimetic approach has led to notable improvements in material properties, structural designs, and overall TENG performance, including enhanced energy conversion efficiency and environmental robustness. The exploration into bio-inspired TENGs has unlocked new possibilities in energy harvesting, self-powered sensing, and wearable electronics, emphasizing reduced energy consumption and increased efficiency through innovative design. This review encapsulates the challenges and advancements in nature inspired TENGs, highlighting the integration of biomimetic principles to overcome current limitations. By focusing on augmented electrical properties, biodegradability, and self-healing capabilities, nature inspired TENGs pave the way for more sustainable and versatile energy solutions.

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG), renowned for their remarkable capability to harness weak mechanical energy from the environment, have gained considerable attention owing to their cost-effectiveness, high output, and adaptability. This review provides a unique perspective by conducting a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of magnetically assisted TENGs that encompass structures, materials, and self-powered sensing systems. We systematically summarize the diverse functions of the magnetic assistance for TENGs, including system stiffness, components of the hybrid electromagnetic-triboelectric generator, transmission, and interaction forces. In the material domain, we review the incorporation of magnetic nano-composites materials, along with ferrofluid-based TENG and microstructure verification, which have also been summarized based on existing research. Furthermore, we delve into the research progress on physical quantity sensing and human-machine interface in magnetic-assisted TENGs. Our analysis highlights that magnetic assistance extends beyond the repulsive and suction forces under a magnetic field, thereby playing multifaceted roles in improving the output performance and environmental adaptability of the TENGs. Finally, we present the prevailing challenges and offer insights into the future trajectory of the magnetic-assisted TENGs development.

Wearable devices for health monitoring and fitness management have foreseen a rapidly expanding market, especially those for noninvasive and continuous measurements with real-time display that provide practical convenience and eliminated safety/infection risks. Herein, a self-powered and fully integrated smartwatch that consists of flexible photovoltaic cells and rechargeable batteries in the forms of a "watch strap", electrochemical glucose sensors, customized circuits, and display units integrated into a "dial" platform is successfully fabricated for real-time and continuous monitoring of sweat glucose levels. The functionality of the smartwatch, including sweat glucose sensing, signal processing, and display, can be supported with the harvested/converted solar energy without external charging devices. The Zn-MnO2 batteries serve as intermediate energy storage units and the utilization of aqueous electrolytes eliminated safety concerns for batteries, which is critical for wearable devices. Such a wearable system in a smartwatch fashion realizes integration of energy modules with self-powered capability, electrochemical sensors for noninvasive glucose monitoring, and in situ and real-time signal processing/display in a single platform for the first time. The as-fabricated fully integrated and self-powered smartwatch also provides a promising protocol for statistical study and clinical investigation to reveal correlations between sweat compositions and human body dynamics.

Abstract Efficient harvesting and storage of dispersed irregular energy from the environment are crucial to the demand for the distributed devices of the Internet of Things (IoTs). Here, a carbon felt (CF)‐based energy conversion‐storage‐supply integrated system (CECIS) that contains a CF‐based solid‐state supercapacitor (CSSC) and a CF‐based triboelectric nanogenerator (C‐TENG) is presented, which is capable of simultaneously energy storage and conversion. The simple treated CF not only delivers a maximal specific capacitance of 402.4 F g−1 but also prominent supercapacitor characteristics with fast charge and slow discharge, enabling 38 LEDs successfully lightened for more than 900 s after a wireless charging time of only 2 s. With the original CF as the sensing layer, buffer layer, and current collector of C‐TENG, the maximal power of 91.5 mW is attained. The CECIS shows a competitive output performance. The time ratio of the duration of supply energy to the harvesting and storage reaches 9.6:1, meaning that it is competent for the continuous energy application when the effective working time of C‐TENG is longer than one‐tenth of the whole day. This study not only highlights the great potential of CECIS in sustainable energy harvesting and storage but also lays the foundation for the ultimate realization of IoTs.

Electricity is the basic and essential need for every single person and guarantees the development of society, industry, and the economy. The limited conventional fossil fuel meets the challenge of the sharply increasing demand, while may lead to severe pollution. Emerging green energy harvesting systems can convert ambient kinetic, thermal, and solar energy to electricity effectivity. In this review paper, the authors provide an overview of the new and emerging methods, droplet‐based electricity generators, that convert energy from the ubiquitously existing water droplets. The authors begin with a brief introduction of the working principle for droplet‐based power generators. Existing configurations of the droplet‐based power generator are also summarized, including 1) single electrode, 2) transistor‐based, and 3) direct current generator. Then, a detailed discussion of the design and operation factors that may impact the energy harvesting efficiency of droplet‐based power generators is provided. Hybrid energy harvester that integrates droplet‐based power generators with other triboelectric, pyroelectric, and photovoltaic‐based devices are summarized. Finally, challenges and perspectives regarding the future development of droplet‐based power generators are described. The reviews demonstrate a highly efficient method for energy harvesting from water droplets to meet the vital needs of the energy crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the invention of the Triboelectric Nanogenerator (TENG), researchers have used this technology to facilitate the harvesting of environmental energy, such as wind and vibration, as well as the sensing of environmental parameters, such as wind speed and geological changes, resulting in the development of self-powered environmental monitoring systems. Nonetheless, the complex and ever-changing natural environment requires that the system not only complete a wide range of monitoring tasks but also provide remote and instantaneous wireless sensing capabilities. This work proposes a self-powered wireless environmental monitoring system based on a configurable Rotary Switch TENG (RS-TENG), which integrates deep learning algorithms and is capable of multi-parameter environmental monitoring. The RS-TENG can work with wind and record speed information; a capacitive strain sensor equipped on bridges and an inductive weight sensor plated around mountains are also considered monitoring nodes for multi-parameter monitoring in the natural environment. A resonant circuit and a tip-discharge structure allow the steady transmission of wireless signals that carry significant bridge component deformation and rockfall information to the user interface for decision-making. With deep learning algorithms, the system detects the deformation states of bridge components and rockfall warning signals and identifies defined levels. By adopting a shared wind cup, the RS-TENG allows the node to power electronic devices while enabling entirely automatic wireless wind monitoring. Furthermore, a user-friendly visualization interface is built for this environmental monitoring system, which allows users to assign monitoring tasks and get reasonable results. This work provides a paradigm for TENG technology applied in self-powered wireless environmental monitoring in complicated and particular natural environments. [Display omitted] • An environmental monitoring system with multiple sensing capabilities is established based on a rotary switch TENG (RS-TENG). • The combination of RS-TENGs, a tip-discharge structure, and a resonant circuit allows the transmission of wireless signals. • The RS-TENG can power electronic devices while enabling automatic monitoring by adopting different enclosure structures. • A real-time and user-friendly visualization interface integrating deep learning is developed for monitoring applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly efficient and flexible power sources have always been the focus and goal in the field of wearable electronics. However, the existing wearable power sources are limited by their large size, high weight, electrolyte leakage, and poor mechanical compliance, which seriously hinders their practical applications. Herein, we propose a novel strategy to achieve and demonstrate a fabric-based high-performance wearable triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) structure. The metals of gallium (Ga), bismuth (Bi), indium (In), and tin (Sn) are mixed according to specific mass ratios, and then they are transformed in liquid phase to form room-temperature multiphase soft metals of GaBiInSn. The material exhibits both metallic and fluidic properties, and possesses a characteristic of multiphase structure. The GaBiInSn material is directly deposited between polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) layers and nonwoven fabrics to establish multi-level conductive and frictional interfaces, creating charge transfer and solid-liquid hybrid dielectric layers. Therefore, the thin film-type triboelectric nanogenerators with a structure of PTFE/GaBiInSn/nonwoven fabric (LM-P-TENGs) is manufactured. The LM-P-TENGs can be integrated onto fabrics without compromising their breathability, comfortableness, and flexibility. Particularly, LM-P-TENGs efficiently convert the mechanical energy of human limb movements into sustainable electrical energy output. Under the human limb mechanical triggering conditions, LM-P-TENG achieves a champion specific open-circuit voltage up to 900 V, peak short-circuit current density of 43.3 mA/m2, and high power density of 12.56 W/m2. This work demonstrates the application potential of room-temperature multiphase soft materials in flexible wearable power sources, while introducing a novel power supply mode for wearable electronics. Additionally, the LM-P-TENGs also present applications in self-powered wearables, medical biosensing systems, human-machine interaction systems, near-eye display systems, etc. for the flexible electronics. [Display omitted] • The method for fabricating a flexible LM-P-TENG based on multiphase soft metal is developed for energy harvesting. • The V oc of LM-P-TENG can reach 900 V, the I sc can reach 43.3 mA/m2, and the power density can reach 12.56 W/m2. • The LM-P-TENG shows potential in the field of smart wearables and human-machine interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advent of the fifth-generation mobile communication network era induces a great potential for the design and development of self-powered wearable electronic devices. Hydrogels, as a typical material for flexible electrodes, have been widely employed in self-powered wearable electronic devices. However, the hydrogel-based triboelectric nanogenerator (H-TENG) is usually compromised by the challenges in data collection, operational stability, and manufacturability due to the unstable combination between the friction layer and the electrode layer, the occurrence of hydrogel damage during prolonged operation, and also the difficulty of machining sticky hydrogel electrodes. In the present study, a composite hydrogel composed of acrylamide, crotonyl alcohol, and 4-carboxyphenylboronic acid was synthesized via ultraviolet crosslinking, which was specially developed for H-TENG and wearable wireless remote control interface, featuring with excellent stretchability and mechanical strength as well as self-healing and self-adhesive properties. The open-circuit voltage of the H-TENG prepared with the hydrogel reached up to 165 V, and the output voltage remained almost unchanged following 10,000 cycles of compression test. Additionally, a wearable wireless remote control system was designed that could accurately control the multiple appliances and adjust different working modes using the H-TENG. Consequently, the development of the H-TENG and wearable wireless remote control system has the potential to provide a new methodology for the application of next-generation wearable devices in various areas, such as smart homes, as a representative example. [Display omitted] • The hydrogel electrode of H-TENG was endowed with self-adhesive, self-healing and excellent mechanical properties. • The output performance of H-TENG was successfully regulated by changing the contents of the composite hydrogel. • The self-powered wireless remote control system enabled smart homes by integrating H-TENG with Arduino and Bluetooth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a low-height, stackable triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) with grating structures was developed to convert vertical deformation into lateral sliding motion to enhance the output current density. The unit device consists of a dielectric layer connected at its center to a spring surrounded by a structure with two pairs of horizontally aligned electrodes. The dielectric layers were fabricated by coating nylon onto a mask-patterned polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and forming surface nanostructures through a single reactive ion etching process. Owing to the microgroove formed on the electrode layer, the device exhibited enhanced durability and sustained energy harvesting for more than 45,000 cycles compared to untreated electrodes. The grating structure enabled a high output current and allowed for an increase in the active surface area with only a 1 mm increase in stack height per unit. The experimental results with a device having a grating number of 6 and stacked in five TENG units showed fast charging, with a root mean square (RMS) voltage of 199.4 V and an RMS current of 6.56 μA, at 2 Hz and 15 mm amplitude sinusoidal oscillation. The maximum RMS and peak power density were 6.03 W/m3 and 130.3 W/m3, respectively. Owing to its innovative design, the enhanced output current facilitated the rapid initial charging of the capacitor voltage, resulting in an approximately 25.8-fold increase in the initial charging speed compared with a single-unit TENG without a grating structure. The energy harvested from fewer than six mechanical inputs was sufficient to fully operate a wireless environmental sensor that wirelessly measured and transmitted environmental data. The unique and efficient structure of the device renders it suitable for applications requiring small vertical mechanical deformations. [Display omitted] • A stackable triboelectric nanogenerator with grating structures for enhanced energy output density was fabricated. • The grating structure allowed for high short-circuit current even with small vertical displacements. • Each additional stack increases the height by only 1 mm, ensuring high spatial efficiency. • The energy harvested from fewer than 6 mechanical inputs was sufficient to power a wireless environmental sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• In-situ curing of the hierarchical structure of the ionic polymer gel encapsulated within ecoflex. • The GPE-TENG demonstrates high durability, sustaining heavy mechanical deformations and environmental stability. • The GPE-TENG exhibits outstanding energy harvesting capabilities with a peak power density of 0.36 W m−2. • The GPE-TENG showed superior strain sensing capabilities for monitoring human activities and rehabilitation progress. • A self-powered wearable touch panel is developed for demonstrating touch track/pattern recognition and user identification. Gel-based sensors for next generation touch panels have been acknowledged for their exceptional sensitivity and flexibility. However, these sensors typically depend on a metal grid connection, which is susceptible to structural deformation under heavy stress applications and necessitates external power. Here, we report a novel in-situ cured gel polymer electrode-based triboelectric nanogenerator (GPE-TENG) that is stretchable, semi-transparent, and durable, designed to enable a self-powered touch panel for intelligent touch perception. The in-situ curing of the hierarchical structure of the ionic polymer gel encapsulated within the ecoflex ensures robust adhesion of the ionic conductive polymer gel (PEO/LiTFSI) to the ecoflex layers, addressing the issue of delamination in TENG components under mechanical stress. As a result, the GPE-TENG demonstrates high durability, enduring under stretching of approximately 375 % and sustaining heavy mechanical deformations (under folding, twisting, and rolling) over a long period (approximately 2 months) without loss of functionality. Remarkably, the GPE-TENG exhibits outstanding energy harvesting capabilities with a peak power density of 0.36 W m-2. Notably, the GPE-TENG generates electrical signals through simple device stretching, thus serving as a self-powered wearable sensor for human activity monitoring. Moreover, a 9-digital arrayed (3 × 3) flexible, semi-transparent, and self-powered touch panel based on the GPE-TENG shows multifunctionality, including touch track/pattern recognition (i.e. touch and sliding mode) and a highly accurate (∼98 %) deep learning assisted smart biometric system for user identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Gas-mask-integrated multi-dielectric flutter triboelectric generator (MF-TEG) was developed. • MF-TEG was systemically investigated in terms of various design variables. • Self-powered chemical warfare agent sensing mechanism of MF-TEG was established. • Self-powered emergency response gas-mask system (S-ERG) was ultimately realized. In hazardous environments, gas-mask wearers encounter various emergencies, and responding to such emergencies is crucial for safety and survival. In sudden or long-term emergencies, a self-powered gas-mask system must be established for continuous power supply to emergency-related electronics or for reliable self-powered sensing. However, a comprehensive analysis and the demonstration of a gas-mask integration design that considers breathing resistance, electrical output, and practical applications remain challenging. In this study, a gas-mask-canister-embedded inhalation-driven multi-dielectric flutter triboelectric generator (MF-TEG) was proposed to realize a self-powered emergency response gas-mask system (S-ERG). The MF-TEG was mechanically and electrically analyzed and optimized for various design variables. The canister with the MF-TEG generated stable electrical output (62 V, 500 Hz) during every inhalation, and the inhalation resistance was 7 % lower than permissible level, although the canister was compact. In the charging mode, the S-ERG demonstrated personal environmental monitoring and wireless location-tracking. A self-powered chemical warfare agent (CWA) sensing mechanism was established and analyzed for various variables. The S-ERG in the sensing mode, equipped with a signal-processing unit, could be used as a real-time personal CWA alert system. This study contributes to improving the practicality of TEGs as a promising energy technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For high-efficiency harvesting high-entropy ocean wave energy , spherical triboelectric nanogenerators (S-TENGs) is an innovated technology, this review mainly focuses on the recent advances of S-TENGs for harvesting high-entropy ocean wave energy and self-powered system. The potential difficulties and tough challenges that can impede their large-scale commercial applications are summarized and discussed. [Display omitted] • A review is discussed on present spherical TENG technology for the first time in high-entropy ocean wave energy. • Recent advances of spherical TENG on high-entropy ocean wave energy harvesting and self-powered sensing are summarized. • Relationship among the properties of triboelectric materials, device structures and output performances are analyzed. • Development and application for spherical TENGs to face the changeable and dangerous ocean environment are discussed. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) with the merits of low-cost, environmental friendliness is the most widely used and regarded as an innovated technology of harvesting high-entropy ocean wave energy (HE-OWE), considering as one of the promising sustainable and cleanable energy sources, which TENG with spherical structure is more favorable. This review mainly focuses on the recent advances of spherical (S)-TENGs for harvesting HE-OWE and self-powered system due to the absolute advantages of simple structure and fabrication more easily. From the perspective of working modes of S-TENGs in different ocean occasions, in-depth research on the relationship between triboelectric material properties, structural characteristics, and the electrical output performance of devices are compared for high efficiency development of HE-OWE. These S-TENGs shows the great potential for driving marine electronic devices and boosting the rapid development of marine economy inevitably. Furthermore, the potential values are explored and tough challenges that can impede their large-scale commercial applications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cost-effective, self-powered all-around disinfection system based on double-ring triboelectric nanogenerator (DR-TENG) is proposed for simultaneous disinfection of air and drinking water. The double-ring structure results in an average power of 188.74 mW, about 1.20 and 2.05-fold higher than traditional TENGs with only OR-TENG and IR-TENG structures, and the average power density per rotation is up to 20.04 mW/m2·rpm at the rotational speed of 300 rpm. [Display omitted] • A cost-effective, self-powered all-around disinfection system is developed. • The double-ring structure enables DR-TENG with ultrahigh APD/R of 20.04 mW/m2·rpm. • Simultaneous disinfection of air and water breaks the single environment barrier. • CECIC water disinfection efficiency increases as electric conductivity decreases. • The entire system cost can be as low as $12.92 for a 2-year service. The transmission of infectious diseases by bacteria in air and drinking water represents a significant challenge to public health. However, the majority of existing disinfection methods are dependent on a power grid and cannot achieve simultaneous disinfection when both air and drinking water are contaminated. Here a cost-effective, self-powered all-around disinfection system was developed based on double-ring triboelectric nanogenerator (DR-TENG) with an outer-ring TENG (OR-TENG) and an inner-ring TENG (IR-TENG). The double-ring structure enables DR-TENG to achieve an average power of up to 188.74 mW, which is approximately 1.20 and 2.05 times higher than that of traditional TENGs with OR-TENG and IR-TENG structures only, respectively. Subsequently, the two outputs of OR-TENG and IR-TENG can power UV lamps and tubular coaxial-electrode copper ionization cell (CECIC), respectively, for the simultaneous disinfection of air (>5-log disinfection efficiency within 5 min) and drinking water (>6-log disinfection efficiency at the HRT of 2 min), which breaks the limitation that traditional TENG-driven disinfection systems can only achieve disinfection in a single environment (air or water). A systematic investigation was conducted to examine the phenomenon of a reduction in disinfection efficiency with an increase in electric conductivity during CECIC drinking water disinfection. Meanwhile, the self-powered system is independent of the power grid, and a cost as low as $12.92 for a 2-year service enables the system to be cost-effective and expands the application scenarios. In the practical environment, the self-powered disinfection system can be used for simultaneous disinfection of air and drinking water in remote energy-scarce areas or densely populated spaces such as hospitals and schools, and will potentially promote family medical care and public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is widely used in various industries due to their high flexibility and large maneuverable space. Abnormal vibration of UAV motors can prevent it from working properly due to the abnormal state of the motors and the harsh external environment. There is no suitable method to monitor the UAV motors vibration in real time. At the same time, commercial sensors require an additional power supply to power the sensor, which indirectly limited their application in UAVs. A vibration sensor (AV-TENG) with magnetic spring structure was proposed in this paper for monitoring the vibration of UAV motors. The experimental results show that the magnetic spring has excellent stability. AV-TENG can achieve frequency detection in a wide frequency band. It also has excellent linearity with a maximum error of only 0.0062 %. Simultaneously, to verify the performance of AV-TENG in various environments and simulate its loading, the results demonstrate that AV-TENG can adapt well to the working conditions of UAV. Finally, this paper constructs a low-cost (less than $7), easy-to-manufacture signal acquisition system, and conducts a field demonstration, realizing the monitoring of the vibration frequency and acceleration of the UAV motors, and realizing the early warning, which is expected to promote the development of the field of UAV as well as the practical application of the triboelectric nanogenerator. [Display omitted] • Based on TENG, the vibration sensor designed in this paper was used to monitor the vibration of the motor part of the UAV. • A novel magnetic spring structure is designed, which has the advantages of high reliability and high stability. • A low-cost, high-accuracy acquisition system for TENG is designed. UAV-carrying experiments were conducted in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]