Recent advances in stretchable triboelectric nanogenerators for use in wearable bioelectronic devices

Wearable bioelectronic devices have the capacity for real-time human health monitoring,the provision of tailored services,and natural interaction with smart devices.However,these wearable bioelectronic devices rely on conventional rigid batteries that are frequently charged or replaced and are incompatible with the skin,leading to a discontinuity in complex therapeutic tasks related to human health monitoring and human-machine interaction.Stretchable triboelectric nanogenerator(TENG)is a high-efficiency energy harvesting technology that converts mechanical into electrical energy,effectively powering wearable bioelectronic devices.This study comprehensively overviews recent advances in stretchable TENG for use in wearable bioelectronic devices.The working mechanism of stretchable TENG is initially explained.A comprehensive discussion presents the approaches for fabricating stretchable TENG,including the design of stretchable structures and the selection of stretchable materials.Furthermore,applications of wearable bioelectronic devices based on stretchable TENG in human health monitoring(body movements,pulse,and respiration)and human-machine interaction(touch panels,machine control,and virtual reality)are introduced.Ultimately,the challenges and developmental trends regarding wearable bioelectronic devices based on stretchable TENG are elaborated.

Triboelectric‘electrostatic tweezers'for manipulating droplets on lubricated slippery surfaces prepared by femtosecond laser processing

The use of‘Electrostatic tweezers'is a promising tool for droplet manipulation,but it faces many limitations in manipulating droplets on superhydrophobic surfaces.Here,we achieve noncontact and multifunctional droplet manipulation on Nepenthes-inspired lubricated slippery surfaces via triboelectric electrostatic tweezers(TETs).The TET manipulation of droplets on a slippery surface has many advantages over electrostatic droplet manipulation on a superhydrophobic surface.The electrostatic field induces the redistribution of the charges inside the neutral droplet,which causes the triboelectric charged rod to drive the droplet to move forward under the electrostatic force.Positively or negatively charged droplets can also be driven by TET based on electrostatic attraction and repulsion.TET enables us to manipulate droplets under diverse conditions,including anti-gravity climb,suspended droplets,corrosive liquids,low-surface-tension liquids(e.g.ethanol with a surface tension of 22.3 mN·m^(-1)),different droplet volumes(from 100 nl to 0.5 ml),passing through narrow slits,sliding over damaged areas,on various solid substrates,and even droplets in an enclosed system.Various droplet-related applications,such as motion guidance,motion switching,droplet-based microreactions,surface cleaning,surface defogging,liquid sorting,and cell labeling,can be easily achieved with TETs.

Ultra-Robust and High-Performance Rotational Triboelectric Nanogenerator by Bearing Charge Pumping

As an emerging technology to convert environmental high-entropy energy into electrical energy,triboelectric nanogenerator(TENG)has great demands for further enhancing the service lifetime and output performance in practical applications.Here,an ultra-robust and high-performance rotational triboelectric nanogenerator(R-TENG)by bearing charge pumping is proposed.The R-TENG composes of a pumping TENG(P-TENG),an output TENG(O-TENG),a voltage-multiplying circuit(VMC),and a buffer capacitor.The P-TENG is designed with freestanding mode based on a rolling ball bearing,which can also act as the rotating mechanical energy harvester.The output low charge from the P-TENG is accumulated and pumped to the non-contact O-TENG,which can simultaneously realize ultralow mechanical wear and high output performance.The matched instantaneous power of R-TENG is increased by 32 times under 300 r/min.Furthermore,the transferring charge of R-TENG can remain 95%during 15 days(6.4×10^(6)cycles)continuous operation.This work presents a realizable method to further enhance the durability of TENG,which would facilitate the practical applications of high-performance TENG in harvesting distributed ambient micro mechanical energy.

Gel-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Flexible Sensing:Principles,Properties,and Applications

The rapid development of the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence technologies has increased the need for wearable,portable,and self-powered flexible sensing devices.Triboelectric nanogenerators(TENGs)based on gel materials(with excellent conductivity,mechanical tunability,environmental adaptability,and biocompatibility)are considered an advanced approach for developing a new generation of flexible sensors.This review comprehensively summarizes the recent advances in gel-based TENGs for flexible sensors,covering their principles,properties,and applications.Based on the development requirements for flexible sensors,the working mechanism of gel-based TENGs and the characteristic advantages of gels are introduced.Design strategies for the performance optimization of hydrogel-,organogel-,and aerogel-based TENGs are systematically summarized.In addition,the applications of gel-based TENGs in human motion sensing,tactile sensing,health monitoring,environmental monitoring,human-machine interaction,and other related fields are summarized.Finally,the challenges of gel-based TENGs for flexible sensing are discussed,and feasible strategies are proposed to guide future research.

Compliant Iontronic Triboelectric Gels with Phase-Locked Structure Enabled by Competitive Hydrogen Bonding

Rapid advancements in flexible electronics technology propel soft tactile sensing devices toward high-level biointegration,even attaining tactile perception capabilities surpassing human skin.However,the inherent mechanical mismatch resulting from deficient biomimetic mechanical properties of sensing materials poses a challenge to the application of wearable tactile sensing devices in human-machine interaction.Inspired by the innate biphasic structure of human subcutaneous tissue,this study discloses a skin-compliant wearable iontronic triboelectric gel via phase separation induced by competitive hydrogen bonding.Solvent-nonsolvent interactions are used to construct competitive hydrogen bonding systems to trigger phase separation,and the resulting soft-hard alternating phase-locked structure confers the iontronic triboelectric gel with Young’s modulus(6.8-281.9 kPa)and high tensile properties(880%)compatible with human skin.The abundance of reactive hydroxyl groups gives the gel excellent tribopositive and self-adhesive properties(peel strength>70 N m^(−1)).The self-powered tactile sensing skin based on this gel maintains favorable interface and mechanical stability with the working object,which greatly ensures the high fidelity and reliability of soft tactile sensing signals.This strategy,enabling skin-compliant design and broad dynamic tunability of the mechanical properties of sensing materials,presents a universal platform for broad applications from soft robots to wearable electronics.

Chitosan-based triboelectric materials for self-powered sensing at high temperatures

Although biopolymers have been widely utilized as triboelectric materials for the construction of self-powered sensing systems,the annihilation of triboelectric charges at high temperatures restricts the output signals and sensitivity of the assembled sensors.Herein,a novel chitosan/montmorillonite/lignin(CML)composite film was designed and employed as a tribopositive layer in the assembly of a self-powered sensing system for use under hot conditions(25-70℃).The dense contact surface resulting from the strong intermolecular interaction between biopolymers and nanofillers restrained the volatilization of induced electrons.The optimized CML-TENG delivered the highest open-circuit voltage(V_(oc))of 262 V and maximum instantaneous output power of 429 mW/m^(2).Pristine CH-TENG retained only 39%of its initial Voc at 70℃,whereas the optimized CM_(5)L_(3)-TENG retained 66%of its initial Voc.Our work provides a new strategy for suppressing the annihilation of triboelectric charges at high temperatures,thus boosting the development of self-powered sensing devices for application under hot conditions.

Research on human gait sensing based on triboelectric nanogenerator

To address the problem of frequent battery replacement for wearable sensors applied to fall detection among the elderly,a portable and lowcost triboelectric nanogenerator(TENG)-based self-powered sensor for human gait monitoring is proposed.The main fabrication materials of the TENG are polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE)film,aluminum(Al)foil,and polyimide(PI)film,where PTFE and Al are the friction layer materials and the PI film is used to improve the output performance.Exploiting the ability of TENGs to monitor changes in environmental conditions,a self-powered sensor based on the TENG is placed in an insole to collect gait information.Since a TENG does not require a power source to convert physical and mechanical signals into electrical signals,the electrical signals can be used as sensing signals to be analyzed by a computer to recognize daily human activities and fall status.Experimental results show that the accuracy of the TENG-based sensor for recognizing human gait is 97.2%,demonstrating superior sensing performance and providing valuable insights for future monitoring of fall events in the elderly population.

Holistic and localized preparation methods for triboelectric sensors:principles,applications and perspectives

With the arrival of intelligent terminals,triboelectric nanogenerators,as a new kind of energy converter,are considered one of the most important technologies for the next generation of intelligent electronics.As a self-powered sensor,it can greatly reduce the power consumption of the entire sensing system by transforming external mechanical energy to electricity.However,the fabrication method of triboelectric sensors largely determines their functionality and performance.This review provides an overview of various methods used to fabricate triboelectric sensors,with a focus on the processes of micro-electro-mechanical systems technology,three-dimensional printing,textile methods,template-assisted methods,and material synthesis methods for manufacturing.The working mechanisms and suitable application scenarios of various methods are outlined.Subsequently,the advantages and disadvantages of various methods are summarized,and reference schemes for the subsequent application of these methods are included.Finally,the opportunities and challenges faced by different methods are discussed,as well as their potential for application in various intelligent systems in the Internet of Things.

Effect of Artificial Electric Field Surface by Wave-Driven Triboelectricity on Anti-Bioadhesion for Riser Protection

Biofouling has been a persistent problem in marine riser system, resulting in energy waste and equipment damage. Inthis study, a kind of water wave-driven contact-mode flexible triboelectric nanogeneration has been prepared byusing graphene-doped PDMS as dielectric friction material. When the graphene content is 2%, the average outputvoltage can reach 46 V under the contact frequency 10 Hz. The flexible triboelectric nanogeneration encapsulationmodule is impinged by water waves to generate alternating microelectric field on the riser surface and destroy theadhesion conditions of microorganisms during the biofilm stage. In the biofouling experiments at different stages, thebiofouling area of the platymonas subcordiformis has been reduced by 53%, 62% and 61%. It provides a new ideafor effective treatment of biofouling of mussels, oysters and barnacles attached to risers.

Application of different fiber structures and arrangements by electrospinning in triboelectric nanogenerators

In recent years,nanogenerators(NGs)have attracted wide attention in the energy field,among which triboelectric nanogenerators(TENGs)have shown superior performance.Multiple reports of electrospinning(ES)-based TENGs have been reported,but there is a lack of deep analysis of the designing method from microstructure,limiting the creative of new ES-based TENGs.Most TENGs use polymer materials to achieve corresponding design,which requires structural design of polymer materials.The existing polymer molding design methods include macroscopic molding methods,such as injection,compression,extrusion,calendering,etc.,combined with liquid-solid changes such as soluting and melting;it also includes micro-nano molding technology,such as melt-blown method,coagulation bath method,ES method,and nanoimprint method.In fact,ES technology has good controllability of thickness dimension and rich means of nanoscale structure regulation.At present,these characteristics have not been reviewed.Therefore,in this paper,we combine recent reports with some microstructure regulation functions of ES to establish a more general TENGs design method.Based on the rich microstructure research results in the field of ES,much more new types of TENGs can be designed in the future.

A Review of Contact Electrification at Diversified Interfaces and Related Applications on Triboelectric Nanogenerator

The triboelectric nanogenerator(TENG)can effectively collect energy based on contact electrification(CE)at diverse interfaces,including solid–solid,liquid–solid,liquid–liquid,gas–solid,and gas–liquid.This enables energy harvesting from sources such as water,wind,and sound.In this review,we provide an overview of the coexistence of electron and ion transfer in the CE process.We elucidate the diverse dominant mechanisms observed at different interfaces and emphasize the interconnectedness and complementary nature of interface studies.The review also offers a comprehensive summary of the factors influencing charge transfer and the advancements in interfacial modification techniques.Additionally,we highlight the wide range of applications stemming from the distinctive characteristics of charge transfer at various interfaces.Finally,this review elucidates the future opportunities and challenges that interface CE may encounter.We anticipate that this review can offer valuable insights for future research on interface CE and facilitate the continued development and industrialization of TENG.

Recent advances in high charge density triboelectric nanogenerators

Triboelectric materials with high charge density are the building-block for the commercial application of triboelectric nanogenerators(TENGs).Unstable dynamic processes influence the change of the charge density on the surface and inside of triboelectric materials.The charge density of triboelectric materials depends on the surface and the internal charge transfer processes.The focus of this review is on recent advances in high charge density triboelectric materials and advances in the fabrication of TENGs.We summarize the existing strategies for achieving high charge density in triboelectric materials as well as their fundamental properties.We then review current optimization methods for regulating dynamic charge transfer processes to increase the output charge density:first,increasing charge injection and limiting charge dissipation to achieve a high average surface charge density,and second,regulating the internal charge transfer process and storing charge in triboelectric materials to increase the output charge density.Finally,we present the challenges and prospects in developing high-performance triboelectric materials.

Advances in magnetic-assisted triboelectric nanogenerators:structures,materials and self-sensing systems

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.

Advances in Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Blue Energy Harvesting and Marine Environmental Monitoring

Blue energy,which includes rainfall,tidal current,wave,and water-flow energy,is a promising renewable resource,although its exploitation is limited by current technologies and thus remains low.This form of energy is mainly harvested by electromagnetic generators(EMGs),which generate electricity via Lorenz force-driven electron flows.Triboelectric nano genera tors(TENGs)and TENG networks exhibit superiority over EMGs in low-frequency and high-entropy energy harvesting as a new approach for blue energy harvesting.A TENG produces electrical outputs by adopting the mechanism of Maxwell’s displacement current.To date,a series of research efforts have been made to optimize the structure and performance of TENGs for effective blue energy harvesting and marine environmental applications.Despite the great progress that has been achieved in the use of TENGs in this context so far,continuous exploration is required in energy conversion,device durability,power management,and environmental applications.This review reports on advances in TENGs for blue energy harvesting and marine environmental monitoring.It introduces the theoretical foundations of TENGs and discusses advanced TENG prototypes for blue energy harvesting,including TENG structures that function in freestanding and contact-separation modes.Performance enhancement strategies for TENGs intended for blue energy harvesting are also summarized.Finally,marine environmental applications of TENGs based on blue energy harvesting are discussed.

Recent advances in fabricating high-performance triboelectric nanogenerators via modulating surface charge density

Triboelectric nanogenerators(TENGs),a type of promising micro/nano energy source,have been arousing tremendous research interest since their inception and have been the subject of many striking developments,including defining the fundamental physical mechanisms,expanding applications in mechanical to electric power conversion and self-powered sensors,etc.TENGs with a superior surface charge density at the interfaces of the electrodes and dielectrics are found to be crucial to the enhancement of the performance of the devices.Here,an overview of recent advances,including material optimization,circuit design,and strategy conjunction,in developing TENGs through surface charge enhancement is presented.In these topics,different strategies are retrospected in terms of charge transport and trapping mechanisms,technical merits,and limitations.Additionally,the current challenges in high-performance TENG research and the perspectives in this field are discussed.

Bidirectional rotating direct-current triboelectric nanogenerator with self-adaptive mechanical switching for harvesting reciprocating motion

Amid the growing interest in triboelectric nanogenerators(TENGs)as novel energy-harvesting devices,several studies have focused on direct current(DC)TENGs to generate a stable DC output for operating electronic devices.However,owing to the working mechanisms of conventional DC TENGs,generating a stable DC output from reciprocating motion remains a challenge.Accordingly,we propose a bidirectional rotating DC TENG(BiR-TENG),which can generate DC outputs,regardless of the direction of rotation,from reciprocating motions.The distinct design of the BiR-TENG enables the mechanical rectification of the alternating current output into a rotational-direction-dependent DC output.Furthermore,it allows the conversion of the rotational-direction-dependent DC output into a unidirectional DC output by adapting the configurations depending on the rotational direction.Owing to these tailored design strategies and subsequent optimizations,the BiR-TENG could generate an effective unidirectional DC output.Applications of the BiR-TENG for the reciprocating motions of swinging doors and waves were demonstrated by harnessing this output.This study demonstrates the potential of the BiR-TENG design strategy as an effective and versatile solution for energy harvesting from reciprocating motions,highlighting the suitability of DC outputs as an energy source for electronic devices.

A triboelectric nanogenerator based on a spiral rotating shaft for efficient marine energy harvesting of the hydrostatic pressure differential

Equipment used in underwater sensing and exploration typically relies on cables or batteries for energy supply,resulting in a limited and inconvenient energy supply and marine environmental pollution that hinder the sustainable development of distributed ocean sensing networks.Here,we design a deep-sea differential-pressure triboelectric nanogenerator(DP-TENG)based on a spiral shaft drive using modified polymer materials to harness the hydrostatic pressure gradient energy at varying ocean depths to power underwater equipment.The spiral shaft structure converts a single compression into multiple rotations of the TENG rotor,achieving efficient conversion of differential pressure energy.The multi-pair electrode design enables the DP-TENG to generate a peak current of 61.7μA,the instantaneous current density can reach 0.69μA cm^(-2),and the output performance can be improved by optimizing the spiral angle of the shaft.The DP-TENG can charge a 33μF capacitor to 17.5 V within five working cycles.It can also power a digital calculator and light up 116 commercial power light-emitting diodes,demonstrating excellent output capability.With its simple structure,low production cost,and small form factor,the DP-TENG can be seamlessly integrated with underwater vehicles.The results hold broad prospects for underwater blue energy harvesting and are expected to contribute to the development of self-powered equipment toward emerging“smart ocean”and blue economy applications.

Tribotronics: an emerging field by coupling triboelectricity and semiconductors

Tribotronics is an emerging research field that focuses on the coupling of triboelectricity and semiconductors.In this review,we summarise and explore three branches of tribotronics.Firstly,we introduce the tribovoltaic effect,which involves direct-current power generation through mechanical friction on semiconductor interfaces.This effect offers significant advantages in terms of high power density compared to traditional insulator-based triboelectric nanogenerators.Secondly,we elaborate on triboelectric modulation,which utilises the triboelectric potential on field-effect transistors.This approach enables active mechanosensation and nanoscale tactile perception.Additionally,we present triboelectric management,which aims to improve energy supply efficiency using semiconductor device technology.This strategy provides an effective microenergy solution for sensors and microsystems.For the interactions between triboelectricity and semiconductors,the research of tribotronics has exhibited the electronics of interfacial friction systems,and the triboelectric technology by electronics.This review demonstrates the promising prospects of tribotronics in the development of new functional devices and self-powered microsystems for intelligent manufacturing,robotic sensing,and the industrial Internet of Things.

Rational Design of Cellulosic Triboelectric Materials for Self‑Powered Wearable Electronics

With the rapid development of the Internet of Things and flexible electronic technologies,there is a growing demand for wireless,sustainable,multifunctional,and independently operating self-powered wearable devices.Nevertheless,structural flexibility,long operating time,and wearing comfort have become key requirements for the widespread adoption of wearable electronics.Triboelectric nanogenerators as a distributed energy harvesting technology have great potential for application development in wearable sensing.Compared with rigid electronics,cellulosic self-powered wearable electronics have significant advantages in terms of flexibility,breathability,and functionality.In this paper,the research progress of advanced cellulosic triboelectric materials for self-powered wearable electronics is reviewed.The interfacial characteristics of cellulose are introduced from the top-down,bottom-up,and interfacial characteristics of the composite material preparation process.Meanwhile,the modulation strategies of triboelectric properties of cellulosic triboelectric materials are presented.Furthermore,the design strategies of triboelectric materials such as surface functionalization,interfacial structure design,and vacuum-assisted self-assembly are systematically discussed.In particular,cellulosic self-powered wearable electronics in the fields of human energy harvesting,tactile sensing,health monitoring,human–machine interaction,and intelligent fire warning are outlined in detail.Finally,the current challenges and future development directions of cellulosic triboelectric materials for self-powered wearable electronics are discussed.

Harvesting Environment Mechanical Energy by Direct Current Triboelectric Nanogenerators

As hundreds of millions of distributed devices appear in every corner of our lives for information collection and transmission in big data era,the biggest challenge is the energy supply for these devices and the signal transmission of sensors.Triboelectric nanogenerator(TENG)as a new energy technology meets the increasing demand of today’s distributed energy supply due to its ability to convert the ambient mechanical energy into electric energy.Meanwhile,TENG can also be used as a sensing system.Direct current triboelectric nanogenerator(DC-TENG)can directly supply power to electronic devices without additional rectification.It has been one of the most important developments of TENG in recent years.Herein,we review recent progress in the novel structure designs,working mechanism and corresponding method to improve the output performance for DC-TENGs from the aspect of mechanical rectifier,tribovoltaic effect,phase control,mechanical delay switch and air-discharge.The basic theory of each mode,key merits and potential development are discussed in detail.At last,we provide a guideline for future challenges of DC-TENGs,and a strategy for improving the output performance for commercial applications.