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Harnessing energy from underwater bubbles has garnered significant attention, particularly for powering off‐grid circuitry. However, the efficiency of bubble‐driven liquid‐solid interface charge transfer remains low. This research unveils a phenomenon: accelerated bubble slippage enhances liquid‐solid interfacial charge transfer. Building upon this discovery, a pulse bubble‐based power generation technique is proposed, achieving an energy density of 24.2 mJ L−1 generated by pulsed bubbles. The crux of pulse bubble power generation lies in the precise control of impact velocity. By meticulously regulating the impact kinetic energy of bubbles, the accumulated potential energy of multiple small bubbles is converted into instantaneous pulse kinetic energy. A typical pulse bubble is controlled within a 72 ms timeframe, unleashing a surge of energy that can directly illuminate 400 light‐emitting diodes. This approach represents a groundbreaking advancement in underwater energy harvesting technology, dramatically expanding its potential applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wearable electronics with multi‐functionalities are widely utilized in various domains, including everyday living, healthcare, military training, and sports. Advances in flexible electronic technology, new materials, artificial intelligence technology, and sensor technology have accelerated the rapid development of smart wearable devices toward multifunctional and highly integrated trends. The energy supply technology based on the human‐body energy harvesting method endows wearable, multifunctional electronic devices with sustainable, renewable, and self‐powered characteristics, which proposes a solution strategy for the function expansion and energy supply of wearable devices. Herein, this paper discusses recent research on various methods of harvesting human body energy and wearing parts respectively, focusing on the new materials, structures, and processes involved in the representative studies, as well as the impact on energy harvesting and output, and functional applications. Furthermore, the challenges and obstacles faced in the creation of wearable multifunctional devices based on human self‐sufficiency and propose solution strategies to propel them in order to advance the creation of the next wave of intelligent wearable technology are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ocean harbors an abundance of resources, encompassing not only wave energy but also considerable wind energy. Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), as a technology for harvesting low‐frequency, high‐entropy mechanical energy, has shown distinct advantages in the collection and application of marine and wind energy. This study introduces a triboelectric Wind and wave energy harvester (TWWEH), an energy collector based on TENG, which can be used to harness wind and wave energy. The TWWEHs comprise a wind‐driven TENG (W‐TENG) for wind energy collection and a ring‐shaped TENG (R‐TENG) for wave energy collection. The proposed vertically integrated TENG architecture enhances spatial utilization rate. Under oscillatory conditions of 0.8 Hz and ±30°, the R‐TENG generates a peak power of 0.20 mW. While at a wind speed of 10 m s−1, a peak power of the W‐TENG can reach 0.11 mW. This research provides a promising solution to harvest wave and wind energy from the ocean, offering significant potential applications in establishing self‐powered oceanic assessment and meteorological systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrokinetic energy, a vital renewable resource, holds promise for addressing fossil fuel shortages to ensure a sustainable future. This study proposes an efficient and stable ocean wave energy harvesting system that combines a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), an electromagnetic generator (EMG) with a planetary gear system, and a driving turbine. The turbine transforms the up‐and‐down motion in water into continuous, unidirectional rotational motion. An EMG device accelerated by a planetary gear system further ensures sustained output at very low frequencies (0.25 Hz) and boosts the upper limit of power generation at medium to high frequencies. Under water wave conditions with a 1 Hz frequency, the TENG component yields an output of up to 2200 V and 122 µA, while the average EMG output is 15 V and 80 mA. Remarkably, the entire system maintains a steady and uninterrupted output even at extremely low frequencies (0.25 Hz). The peak power outputs for the TENG and EMG components are 115 and 350 mW, respectively, with power densities of 32.55 and 329.78 W m−3, surpassing prior achievements. This research demonstrates self‐powered applications and provides an efficient method to amplify water wave forces, enhancing energy harvesting capabilities for practical marine environmental monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread vibration is one of the most promising energy sources for IoT and small sensors, and broad-frequency vibration energy harvesting is important. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) can convert vibration energy into electrical energy through triboelectricity and electrostatic induction, providing an effective solution to the collection of broad-frequency vibration energy. Also, the power supply in constrained and compact spaces has been a long-standing challenge. Here, a miniaturized power supply (MPS) based on a broad-frequency vibration-driven triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is developed. The size of the MPS is 38 mm × 26 mm × 20 mm, which can adapt to most space-limited environments. The TENG device is optimized through theoretical mechanical modeling for the external stimuli, it can efficiently harvest vibrational energy in the frequency range of 1–100 Hz and has a high output power density of 134.11 W/cm3. The developed device demonstrates its practical application potential in powering small electronics like LEDs, watches, and timers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy harvesting technology for the ubiquitous natural wind enables a desirable solution to the issue of distributed sensors in the bridge environmental sensing Internet of Things (IoT) system being restricted to conventional energy supply. In this work, a self-powered system based on a compact galloping piezoelectric-triboelectric energy harvester (GPTEH) is developed to achieve efficient wind energy harvesting. The GPTEH is constructed on the prototype of a cantilever structure with piezoelectric macro-fiber composite (MFC) sheets and a rectangular bluff body with triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). Through a special swing-type structural design with iron blocks inside the bluff body, the GPTEH exhibits preferable aerodynamic behavior and excellent energy conversion efficiency, compared to conventional cantilever kind of piezoelectric wind energy harvester (PWEH). The GPTEH also demonstrates the capability of high output power density (PEH of 23.65 W m−2 and TENG of 1.59 W m−2), superior response wind speed (about 0.5 m s−1), and excellent long-term stability (over 14000 cyclic tests). Furthermore, a power management system is developed to efficiently utilize the output energy from GPTEH to power the sensors and wirelessly transmit environmental data to the terminals. The proposed GPTEH powered system exhibits a great potential for the bridge environmental monitoring and IoT technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has gained widespread applications due to their unique ability to convert various forms of mechanical energy, such as wind and tidal energy, into electrical power. However, a critical challenge lies in maintaining high efficiency and stability amid fluctuating environmental temperatures. From a materials perspective, it has been observed that the dielectric constant of the frictional triboelectric layer material is influenced by temperature variations, significantly impacting TENG performance. To address this, our study employed Ba(Cu 0.5 W 0.5)O 3 (BCW)-based ceramic powder to develop temperature-stable materials with a high dielectric constant. These materials were combined with PDMS to create a composite thin film for the TENG frictional triboelectric layer. This novel composite thin film-based TENG exhibited remarkable electrical properties, including an open-circuit voltage (V OC) of 127 V and a short-circuit current (I SC) of 3.16 μA, surpassing conventional PDMS thin film-based TENGs that achieved values of 22 V and 0.65 μA, respectively. From −10 °C to 180 °C, the relative change for V OC is 24.6 %, while for I SC is 28.3 %. Additionally, the BCW-based/PDMS TENG demonstrated the capability to simultaneously power 54 LEDs, showcasing its potential as a versatile self-powered device. Our study not only advanced TENG performance from a material standpoint but also mitigated its sensitivity to environmental temperature, thereby expanding its promising applications in diverse scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In drilling operations, measuring vibration parameters is crucial for enhancing drilling efficiency and ensuring safety. Nevertheless, the conventional vibration measurement sensor significantly extends the drilling cycle due to its dependence on an external power source. Therefore, we propose a vibration-accumulation-type self-powered sensor in this research, aiming to address these needs. By leveraging vibration accumulation and electromagnetic power generation to accelerate charging, the sensor's output performance is enhanced through a complementary charging mode. The experimental results regarding sensing performance demonstrate that the sensor possesses a measurement range spanning from 0 to 11 Hz, with a linearity of 3.2% and a sensitivity of 1.032. Additionally, it exhibits a maximum average measurement error of less than 4%. The experimental results of output performance measurement indicate that the sensor unit and generator set exhibit a maximum output power of 0.258 μW and 25.5 mW, respectively, and eight LED lights can be lit at the same time. When the sensor unit and power generation unit output together, the maximum output power of the sensor is also 25.5 mW. Furthermore, we conducted tests on the sensor's output signal in conditions of high temperature and humidity, confirming its continued functionality in such environments. This sensor not only achieves self-powered sensing capabilities, addressing the power supply challenges faced by traditional downhole sensors, but also integrates energy accumulation with electromagnetic power generation to enhance its output performance. This innovation enables the sensor to harness downhole vibration energy for powering other micro-power devices, showcasing promising application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inclination angle is an important factor for slope deformation monitoring. This paper introduces a self-powered pendulum inclination sensor (PI-TENG) based on triboelectric nanogenerator, which can effectively monitor slope deformation. PI-TENG adopts raster-sliding mode as the main structure. The fabricated PI-TENG, based on a raster-sliding working mode, using the linear relationship between the rotation angle of the monitoring object and the number of output pulses to establish an intuitive rotation signal mapping, which can realize self-powered monitoring of the rotation direction and angle not being affected by the environment (such as temperature and humidity). The corresponding minimum resolution of PI-TENG is 3° and can be further improved by increasing the number of Nylon grids on the stator. Importantly, the sensor has a simple structure and low price, and can realize self-powered monitoring without additional power supply. This work provides new ideas for monitoring slope deformation and early warning of landslides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Downhole drilling tool vibration measurement is crucial for drilling exploration safety, so real-time monitoring of vibration data is required. In this research, a honeycomb triboelectric nanogenerator (H-TENG) capable of adapting to various downhole environments is proposed. It can measure the frequency of downhole drilling equipment's vibrations and transfer mechanical energy to electrical energy for use in powering other low power downhole meters. In order to preliminarily verify the possibility of sensors used for vibration measurement of downhole drilling tools, we built a simulated vibration platform to test the sensing performance and vibration energy collection performance of H-TENG. According to the testing results, the measurement range of vibration frequency and amplitude are 0 to 11 Hz and 5 to 25 mm, respectively, and the corresponding measurement errors are less than 5% and 6%, respectively. For vibrational energy harvesting, when four sensors are wired in series with a 107 resistance, the maximum power is approximately 1.57 μW. Compared to typical methods for measuring downhole vibration, the honeycomb triboelectric nanogenerator does not need an external power source, it has greater reliability and output power, and it can vary its shape to adapt to the complicated downhole environment. In addition, the H-TENG can be combined freely according to the diameter of the drill string, and even if one sensor unit is damaged, the other units can still be used normally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sensors based on triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are increasingly gaining attention because of their self-powered capabilities and excellent sensing performance. In this work, we report a Mo2CTx-based triboelectric sensor (Mo-TES) consisting of a Mo2CTx/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite film. The impact of the mass fraction (wt%) and force of Mo2CTx particles on the output performance of Mo-TES was systematically explored. When Mo2CTx particles is 3 wt%, Mo-TES3 achieves an open-circuit voltage of 86.89 V, a short-circuit current of 578.12 nA, and a power density of 12.45 μW/cm2. It also demonstrates the ability to charge capacitors with varying capacitance values. Additionally, the Mo-TES3 demonstrates greater sensitivity than the Mo-TES0 and a faster recovery time of 78 ms. Meanwhile, the Mo-TES3 also demonstrates excellent stability in water washing and antifatigue testing. This demonstrates the effectiveness of Mo-TES as a pressure sensor. Furthermore, leveraging the principle of electrostatic induction, the triboelectric sensor has the potential to achieve non-contact sensing, making it a promising candidate for disease prevention and safety protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a daily environment, several vibration energies have low amplitude and broad range of frequencies, and it is crucial to harvest them efficiently in a single triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). Here, a multi‐degree of freedom (DOF) vibration system is coupled with TENG to make several resonant frequencies in a single device. When the number of DOF increases in the system, the number of resonant frequencies also increases. These resonant frequencies are calculated by MATLAB software using the masses and spring constant of DOF vibration system. With the masses of 20 g and the spring constant of 82.712 N m−1, it is found that 1‐DOF has one resonant frequency (20.47 Hz), 2‐DOF has two resonant frequencies (12.63 and 33.17 Hz), and 3‐DOF has three resonant frequencies (9.12, 25.55, and 36.87 Hz). At each resonant frequency, the displacement of all weight layers increases due to the constructive interference of resonance, resulting in higher output than other frequencies at the frequency sweep experiment. In addition, the magnitude and phase of output signals obtained in friction regions are evaluated through COMSOL simulation. A self‐powered wireless sensor module with 3‐DOF TENGs to detect the humidity/temperature and transmit the data every 30 min by harvesting vibration energy is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harvesting bio-kinetic energy using a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is one of the promising routes to solve the sustainable energy supply problem for wearable electronics. However, additional materials, complex fabricating processes or specific mechanical structures are needed for existing TENGs to harvest bio-kinetic energy. Besides, they need to be tightly attached to the human body, which may result in detachment and malfunction under tense human motion. Herein, an intrinsic epidermal electrode-based TENG (E-TENG) is proposed to harvest human walking energy. The wearing shoes and ground are used as tribo-materials, and the human epidermis is used as the back electrode of the E-TENG. Compared with the traditional TENGs, the E-TENG does not need any additional tribo-materials and complex mechanical structures. Under optimal conditions, the voltage output of E-TENG can reach 914 V. E-TENG has been used as a self-powered warning sensor and pedometer sensor for demonstration. Furthermore, E-TENG based self-powered wireless sensor system has been developed using a newly designed micro energy electronic switch (MEES). Ambient ultraviolet intensity, temperature and humidity information can be monitored and then transmitted to mobile phone every 3.5 min, demonstrating great potential for widespread wearable applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dual-band electrochromic supercapacitor device (DESCD) can be driven by an external power supply to modulate solar radiation, which is a promising energy-saving strategy and has broad application prospects in smart windows. However, traditional power supplies, such as batteries, supercapacitors, etc., usually face limited lifetimes and potential environmental issues. Hence, we propose a self-powered DESCD based on TiO2/WO3 dual-band electrochromic material and a ternary dielectric rotating triboelectric nanogenerator (TDR-TENG). The TDR-TENG can convert mechanical energy from the environment into electrical energy to obtain a high output of 840 V, 23.9 µA, and 327 nC. The as-prepared TDR-TENG can drive the TiO2/WO3 film to store energy with a high dual-band modulation amplitude of 41.6% in the visible (VIS) region and 84% in the near-infrared (NIR) region, decreasing the indoor–outdoor light–heat interaction and thereby reducing the building energy consumption. The self-powered DESCD demonstrated in this study has multiple functions of energy harvesting, energy storage, and energy saving, providing a promising strategy for the development of self-powered smart windows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: A self-powered and highly sensitive tribo-label-sensor is proposed as the substitution of infrared sensor for addressing current issues in label printer. Tribo-label-sensor shows higher integrability, sensitivity, reliability and universality than traditional infrared sensor for label identification, positioning and counting. Label-sensor is an essential component of the label printer which is becoming a most significant tool for the development of Internet of Things (IoT). However, some drawbacks of the traditional infrared label-sensor make the printer fail to realize the high-speed recognition of labels as well as stable printing. Herein, we propose a self-powered and highly sensitive tribo-label-sensor (TLS) for accurate label identification, positioning and counting by embedding triboelectric nanogenerator into the indispensable roller structure of a label printer. The sensing mechanism, device parameters and deep comparison with infrared sensor are systematically studied both in theory and experiment. As the results, TLS delivers 6 times higher signal magnitude than traditional one. Moreover, TLS is immune to label jitter and temperature variation during fast printing and can also be used for transparent label directly and shows long-term robustness. This work may provide an alternative toolkit with outstanding advantages to improve current label printer and further promote the development of IoT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal corrosion causes billions of dollars of economic losses yearly. As a smart and new energy-harvesting device, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) can convert almost all mechanical energy into electricity, which leads to great prospects in metal corrosion prevention and cathodic protection. In this work, flexible TENGs were designed to use the energy harvested by flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) films with ZrB2 nanoparticles and effectively improve the dielectric constant by incorporating ZrB2. The open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current were 264 V and 22.9 µA, respectively, and the power density of the TENGs reached 6 W·m−2. Furthermore, a self-powered anti-corrosion system was designed by the rectifier circuit integrated with TENGs, and the open-circuit potential (OCP) and Tafel curves showed that the system had an excellent anti-corrosion effect on carbon steel. Thus, the system has broad application prospects in fields such as metal cultural relics, ocean engineering, and industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As extremely important physiological indicators, respiratory signals can often reflect or predict the depth and urgency of various diseases. However, designing a wearable respiratory monitoring system with convenience, excellent durability, and high precision is still an urgent challenge. Here, we designed an easy-fabricate, lightweight, and badge reel-like retractable self-powered sensor (RSPS) with high precision, sensitivity, and durability for continuous detection of important indicators such as respiratory rate, apnea, and respiratory ventilation. By using three groups of interdigital electrode structures with phase differences, combined with flexible printed circuit boards (FPCBs) processing technology, a miniature rotating thin-film triboelectric nanogenerator (RTF-TENG) was developed. Based on discrete sensing technology, the RSPS has a sensing resolution of 0.13 mm, sensitivity of 7 P·mm−1, and durability more than 1 million stretching cycles, with low hysteresis and excellent anti-environmental interference ability. Additionally, to demonstrate its wearability, real-time, and convenience of respiratory monitoring, a multifunctional wearable respiratory monitoring system (MWRMS) was designed. The MWRMS demonstrated in this study is expected to provide a new and practical strategy and technology for daily human respiratory monitoring and clinical diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights A fully self-powered bimodal sensor is designed for patterned-displaying the force trajectories. Outstanding mechanoluminescence is achieved with a stimulation force as low as 0.3 N and 2000 cycles reproducibility. The designed bimodal sensor exhibits good potential for handwriting input to achieve visual intelligent control.

The widespread vibration is one of the most promising energy sources for IoT and small sensors, and broad-frequency vibration energy harvesting is important. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) can convert vibration energy into electrical energy through triboelectricity and electrostatic induction, providing an effective solution to the collection of broad-frequency vibration energy. Also, the power supply in constrained and compact spaces has been a long-standing challenge. Here, a miniaturized power supply (MPS) based on a broad-frequency vibration-driven triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is developed. The size of the MPS is 38 mm × 26 mm × 20 mm, which can adapt to most space-limited environments. The TENG device is optimized through theoretical mechanical modeling for the external stimuli, it can efficiently harvest vibrational energy in the frequency range of 1–100 Hz and has a high output power density of 134.11 W/cm3. The developed device demonstrates its practical application potential in powering small electronics like LEDs, watches, and timers.

In drilling operations, measuring vibration parameters is crucial for enhancing drilling efficiency and ensuring safety. Nevertheless, the conventional vibration measurement sensor significantly extends the drilling cycle due to its dependence on an external power source. Therefore, we propose a vibration-accumulation-type self-powered sensor in this research, aiming to address these needs. By leveraging vibration accumulation and electromagnetic power generation to accelerate charging, the sensor’s output performance is enhanced through a complementary charging mode. The experimental results regarding sensing performance demonstrate that the sensor possesses a measurement range spanning from 0 to 11 Hz, with a linearity of 3.2% and a sensitivity of 1.032. Additionally, it exhibits a maximum average measurement error of less than 4%. The experimental results of output performance measurement indicate that the sensor unit and generator set exhibit a maximum output power of 0.258 μW and 25.5 mW, respectively, and eight LED lights can be lit at the same time. When the sensor unit and power generation unit output together, the maximum output power of the sensor is also 25.5 mW. Furthermore, we conducted tests on the sensor’s output signal in conditions of high temperature and humidity, confirming its continued functionality in such environments. This sensor not only achieves self-powered sensing capabilities, addressing the power supply challenges faced by traditional downhole sensors, but also integrates energy accumulation with electromagnetic power generation to enhance its output performance. This innovation enables the sensor to harness downhole vibration energy for powering other micro-power devices, showcasing promising application prospects.

Downhole drilling tool vibration measurement is crucial for drilling exploration safety, so real-time monitoring of vibration data is required. In this research, a honeycomb triboelectric nanogenerator (H-TENG) capable of adapting to various downhole environments is proposed. It can measure the frequency of downhole drilling equipment’s vibrations and transfer mechanical energy to electrical energy for use in powering other low power downhole meters. In order to preliminarily verify the possibility of sensors used for vibration measurement of downhole drilling tools, we built a simulated vibration platform to test the sensing performance and vibration energy collection performance of H-TENG. According to the testing results, the measurement range of vibration frequency and amplitude are 0 to 11 Hz and 5 to 25 mm, respectively, and the corresponding measurement errors are less than 5% and 6%, respectively. For vibrational energy harvesting, when four sensors are wired in series with a 107 resistance, the maximum power is approximately 1.57 μW. Compared to typical methods for measuring downhole vibration, the honeycomb triboelectric nanogenerator does not need an external power source, it has greater reliability and output power, and it can vary its shape to adapt to the complicated downhole environment. In addition, the H-TENG can be combined freely according to the diameter of the drill string, and even if one sensor unit is damaged, the other units can still be used normally.

Soft starters are effective devices used to provide overload protection for motors from large mechanical shocks during the start-up period. However, existing soft starters require additional power supplies, sensors, and complex control elements that pose serious challenges to the integration, versatility, and operability of mechanical transmission system. Herein, we propose a newly soft starter based on the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) and electrorheological fluid (ERF) to realize a self-powered mechanical transmission system. Both ERF’s rheological characteristic and the baffle structure play a role in the torque of device. Driven by TENG, the soft starter with optimized baffle achieves a 715% growth in transmission torque compared to that of the device without baffle. And a smooth start is obtained with transmission speeds ranging from 0% to 100%. In application demonstration, this triboelectric soft starter (TSS) has the capacity to gain a smooth operation of the high-speed motor. In contrast, the direct start generates an overshoot, leading to a break in the conveyor belt. The TSS designed in this work with the advantages of self-powered, highly integrated, easy to operate, and low cost, provides a prospective strategy for broadening the application of TENG in mechanical transmission systems.

Artifacts are irreplaceable treasures of human culture, and transportation monitoring is critical for safeguarding valuable artifacts against damage during culture exchanges. However, current collision-monitoring technologies have limitations in regard to real-time monitoring, cushioning protection, and power supply requirements. Here, we present a method for constructing a smart artifact-monitoring system (SAMS) based on a porous carbon black (CB)/Ecoflex triboelectric nanogenerator (PCE-TENG) that can monitor collisions in real time and absorb vibrations during artifact transportation. The PCE-TENG is assembled using a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) and a porous Ecoflex layer with CB powder. It exhibits cushioning protection, stretchability, pressure sensitivity, and durability. To enhance its electrical output, modifications were made to optimize the CB content and surface structure. The SAMS comprises six PCE-TENGs attached to the inner wall of the artifact transport package and enables collision monitoring and protection in different directions. Moreover, the SAMS has the capability to instantly transmit warning information to monitoring terminals in the event of improper operations, empowering carriers to promptly and efficiently safeguard artifacts by taking necessary measures. This paper presents a practical strategy for artifact transportation monitoring and package engineering that could have significant implications for the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rising development of the Internet of Things (IoTs) and artificial intelligence, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have shown great application potential to dramatically improve our daily lives as self-powered sensors in portable and wearable electronics. In this study, copper foam with graded porous architectures (CFGA), featuring interconnected micro- and nanoporous composite structures, has been developed via a cost-effective and convenient industrial strategy, including electro galvanizing, thermal diffusion, and corrosion methods in sequence. Based on the measurement and evaluation of compressed force, frequency, and reliability, the obtained CFGA can enlarge the contact surface areas and improve the output performance of TENG effectively as a positive electrode. The results show that TENG based on CFGA can yield an open-circuit voltage and a short circuit current of as high as 45.8 V and 1.88 μA, respectively. The corresponding maximum output peak power can reach ∼52.9 μW. For practical application, CFGA-TENG can be designed in a spacer-free structure for keyboards with the function of electronic code lock. Meanwhile, it can also be applied in smart shoe insoles as a self-powered CFGA-TENG sensor array for human motion monitoring in real time. Our work provides an industrial production approach for functional electronics as energy harvesters and sensors and makes it more accessible for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of its adaptive interfacial property, soft sensors/actuators can be used to perform more delicate tasks than their rigid counterparts. However, plant epidermis with a waxy cuticle layer challenges stable and high-fidelity non-invasive electrophysiology since the conventional electrodes are invasive, easily detached from plants, and require complicated setup procedures. Here, we report a bioinspired sensor and actuator created by using a conformable electrode interface as an electrical modulation unit on a Venus flytrap. Our conformable electrode, by employing an adhesive hydrogel layer, can achieve the merits of low impedance, stretchable, biocompatible, reusable, and transparent enough for normal chlorophyll activity to occur. Owing to the high sensitivity of a flytrap to a triggering mechanical stimulation, a plant sensor matrix based on flytraps has been demonstrated by capturing the stimulated action potential (AP) signals from upper epidermis, which can orient honeybee colonies by their touch during collecting nectar. Moreover, via frequency-dependent AP modulation, an autonomous on-demand actuation on a flytrap is realized. The flytrap actuator can be controlled to responsively grasp tiny objects by the modulated signals triggered by a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). This work paves a way of developing autonomous plant-based sensors and actuators toward smart agriculture and intelligent robots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has been recognized as a promising method for energy harvesting and self-powered devices. However, in order to improve the output efficiency of the TENG, it is necessary to change the types of dielectric materials, which requires advanced technology and a high cost to implement. To address this issue, we developed a parallel electrode magnetic-TENG (Mag-TENG) based on contact electrification of a liquid–solid interface under the effect of the magnetic field, which enhances the output performance of the TENG without having to develop the dielectric material. Our experimental results achieved a higher output of the TENG under the influence of a magnetic field when an increase of the magnetic field strength went from 0 to 360 mT, and the flow rate of unsteady seawater was variable from 390 to 690 mL/min. Specifically, compared to the without-magnetic field case, the output current increased by approximately 6.5 times and the output voltage by 2.7 times. These findings suggested that using a magnetic field to enhance the TENG's efficiency has significant potential for energy harvesting from seawater and self-powered flow sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights A self-powered and highly sensitive tribo-label-sensor is proposed as the substitution of infrared sensor for addressing current issues in label printer. Tribo-label-sensor shows higher integrability, sensitivity, reliability and universality than traditional infrared sensor for label identification, positioning and counting.

Liquid crystal (LC) is an intermediate state compound between liquid and crystal, which has the anisotropy of crystal molecules while having the fluidity of liquid. It is a cutting‐edge technology in optoelectronics. LC lens is an electrically controlled focusable gradient refractive index lens. In light field displays, LC lenses with diameters in the millimetre range can cover more areas. Therefore, we propose a large aperture (LA) liquid crystal (LC) lens with an electrically controlled focal length of 4 mm in diameter. LC lenses with large apertures require large voltages and there are certain safety issues and equipment requirements. We have therefore utilised a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) that can harvest energy from the environment and convert it into usable electrical energy. TENG has the advantages of being small and portable and enables the use of renewable energy. In this paper, we propose a new type of feather TENG (F‐TENG) with a positive friction electrode of feathers and a negative electrode of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) mixed with graphene, which enables the use of F‐TENG to power LC lens systems, thus providing a new application idea for the display field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: A fully self-powered bimodal sensor is designed for patterned-displaying the force trajectories. Outstanding mechanoluminescence is achieved with a stimulation force as low as 0.3 N and 2000 cycles reproducibility. The designed bimodal sensor exhibits good potential for handwriting input to achieve visual intelligent control. Self-powered flexible devices with skin-like multiple sensing ability have attracted great attentions due to their broad applications in the Internet of Things (IoT). Various methods have been proposed to enhance mechano-optic or electric performance of the flexible devices; however, it remains challenging to realize the display and accurate recognition of motion trajectories for intelligent control. Here, we present a fully self-powered mechanoluminescent-triboelectric bimodal sensor based on micro-nanostructured mechanoluminescent elastomer, which can patterned-display the force trajectories. The deformable liquid metals used as stretchable electrode make the stress transfer stable through overall device to achieve outstanding mechanoluminescence (with a gray value of 107 under a stimulus force as low as 0.3 N and more than 2000 cycles reproducibility). Moreover, a microstructured surface is constructed which endows the resulted composite with significantly improved triboelectric performances (voltage increases from 8 to 24 V). Based on the excellent bimodal sensing performances and durability of the obtained composite, a highly reliable intelligent control system by machine learning has been developed for controlling trolley, providing an approach for advanced visual interaction devices and smart wearable electronics in the future IoT era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sensors based on triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are increasingly gaining attention because of their self-powered capabilities and excellent sensing performance. In this work, we report a Mo2CTx-based triboelectric sensor (Mo-TES) consisting of a Mo2CTx/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite film. The impact of the mass fraction (wt%) and force of Mo2CTx particles on the output performance of Mo-TES was systematically explored. When Mo2CTx particles is 3 wt%, Mo-TES3 achieves an open-circuit voltage of 86.89 V, a short-circuit current of 578.12 nA, and a power density of 12.45 μW/cm2. It also demonstrates the ability to charge capacitors with varying capacitance values. Additionally, the Mo-TES3 demonstrates greater sensitivity than the Mo-TES0 and a faster recovery time of 78 ms. Meanwhile, the Mo-TES3 also demonstrates excellent stability in water washing and antifatigue testing. This demonstrates the effectiveness of Mo-TES as a pressure sensor. Furthermore, leveraging the principle of electrostatic induction, the triboelectric sensor has the potential to achieve non-contact sensing, making it a promising candidate for disease prevention and safety protection.

A dual-band electrochromic supercapacitor device (DESCD) can be driven by an external power supply to modulate solar radiation, which is a promising energy-saving strategy and has broad application prospects in smart windows. However, traditional power supplies, such as batteries, supercapacitors, etc., usually face limited lifetimes and potential environmental issues. Hence, we propose a self-powered DESCD based on TiO2/WO3 dual-band electrochromic material and a ternary dielectric rotating triboelectric nanogenerator (TDR-TENG). The TDR-TENG can convert mechanical energy from the environment into electrical energy to obtain a high output of 840 V, 23.9 µA, and 327 nC. The as-prepared TDR-TENG can drive the TiO2/WO3 film to store energy with a high dual-band modulation amplitude of 41.6% in the visible (VIS) region and 84% in the near-infrared (NIR) region, decreasing the indoor–outdoor light–heat interaction and thereby reducing the building energy consumption. The self-powered DESCD demonstrated in this study has multiple functions of energy harvesting, energy storage, and energy saving, providing a promising strategy for the development of self-powered smart windows.

With the development of the smart ocean which contains a large number of wireless sensor nodes, it is a great demand to develop high‐performance marine energy harvesters for powering those sensors. In this work, a highly adaptive hybrid nanogenerator based on triboelectric nanogenerator and electromagnetic generator is proposed. The hybrid nanogenerator can be used for scavenging both wind energy and ocean current energy. The peak power of the hybrid nanogenerator can reach 449.74 mW, which can recharge a 50 mAh‐3.7 V Lithium battery. In addition, it is found that there is a linear relationship between the voltage frequency of the triboelectric nanogenerator and the rotation speed, indicating the hybrid nanogenerator can serve as a flow velocity sensor. A fully self‐powered marine wireless sensor node is fabricated based on the hybrid nanogenerator and management circuit. The demonstrations show that the present hybrid nanogenerator has great potential applications for marine wireless sensing in the scenarios of nearshore, offshore, and underwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical system with electro-Fenton reaction is an effective pathway for oxidative degradation of refractory organic pollutants for water treatment. However, the method is limited by the low catalytic efficiency and high electrical cost in practical applications. This work presents a self-powered and high-efficient electrochemical system for water treatment including pollutant degradation and bacterial inactivation, which is composed of a self-powered triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) converting mechanical energy into electrical energy, a power management circuit integrated with a supercapacitor to store the harvesting electrical energy temporarily, and an electrochemical setup integrated with two-dimentional Co(OH)2/Pt nanosheet as electrocatalyst. The nanocatalyst, ultrafine Pt nanoparticles (Pt NPs) loaded on Co(OH)2 nanosheet (Co(OH)2/Pt), is synthesized by a facile one step hydrothermal reaction without any surfactant, which can improve H2O2 and hydroxyl radical production via redox reaction. This self-powered electrocatalytic system is able to degrade nearly 100% of organic pollutant within 100 min, and efficiently kill bacteria. This work shows great potential to develop high-efficient and self-powered electrochemical water treatment system through integrating TENG and nanocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the process of geo-energy drilling, the real-time vibration measurement of drill pipes is of significance for an understanding of the downhole conditions and the properties of rock. However, the vibration sensors used in downhole areas at present require additional power sources, such as batteries, and replacing the batteries would significantly reduce production efficiency and increase costs. In our work, a new vibration measurement method using a triboelectric nanogenerator is proposed which will synchronously achieve axial and lateral vibration, and also simultaneously be self-powered. The triboelectric nanogenerator is mainly made of nanomaterials, such as polyimide film and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and depends on the pulse signal generated by the contact of the two friction layers to measure the vibration frequency. Axial vibration tests show that the output voltage signal amplitude is approximately 3 V, the measurement range is from 0 to 9 Hz, the measurement error is less than 4%, and the maximum output power is 5.63 uW. Additionally, the lateral vibration tests show that the output voltage signal amplitude is approximately 2.5 V, the measurement range is from 0 to 6.8 Hz, the measurement error is less than 6%, and the maximum output power is 4.01 uW. The nanogenerator can typically work in an environment where the temperature is less than 145 °C and the relative humidity is less than 90%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has great potential in harvesting low‐frequency environmental mechanical energy, but the unavoidable friction between tribo‐layers limits the frequency range and efficiency of energy harvesting. Herein, a lower friction and high‐performance triboelectric–electromagnetic hybrid nanogenerator (TE‐HNG) is proposed to harvest broadband rotation energy. The compact sleeve multi‐unit TENG and electromagnetic generator are integrated to achieve respective complementary in electrical output and energy harvesting frequencies. The charge‐supplement type TENG with a single arched fluorinated ethylene propylene film design can not only supplement the charge dissipation of the Nylon surface in time but also ensure the stable output of TENG. The influences of the rotation speed on the electrical output and optimal load of TENG are systematically studied. As a self‐powered active wind speed sensor, the TE‐HNG device can detect the wind speed as low as 1 m s−1, which indicates that the TE‐HNG can harvest broadband wind energy (≈1 m s−1). Triggered by the wind, the TE‐HNG device can not only power the temperature/humidity sensor to work steadily and continuously but also realize the full‐automatic and self‐powered operation of the environmental meteorological monitoring system by combining the energy management and wireless transmission module. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acceleration sensors have wide applications in earthquake warning, human motion recognition, vehicle restraint system, etc. However, the existing commercial acceleration sensors have some limitations on needing an external power supply, high fabrication cost, and small signal when self‐powered. Here a grating‐structured freestanding triboelectric nanogenerator (GF‐TENG) capable of sensing displacements, velocities, and accelerations in real‐time is presented with self‐powered, low cost, and sufficiently large signal. The slider with grating‐structured electrodes of GF‐TENG sliding over the stator with another grating‐structured electrode generates the periodic open‐circuit voltage due to electrostatic induction. By recognizing the shape of open‐circuit voltage, it could sense the acceleration in real time even at scales down to hundred microns through systematic optimization of simulations and experiments. Furthermore, the acceleration sensing range could be expanded to the desired ranges, such as 5.0 to 45.0 m s–2, by assembling springs and GF‐TENG into a grating‐structured TENG‐based acceleration sensor (GTAS). Moreover, GTAS is demonstrated to sense the vehicle motion and be a part of the vehicle restraint system on a model car. This work reports a new self‐powered acceleration sensor with sufficiently large outputs for real‐time motion sensing and collision detection, which could be further applicated for robotics and human motion recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) have proven to be a promising technology for harvesting dispersed mechanical energy. However, traditional TENGs based on triboelectrification and electrostatic induction generate electricity in alternating current (AC) mode, which needs to be converted into direct current (DC) for most applications. Here, we propose a DC-TENG based on the coupling of mismatched number of triboelectric units and electrodes with a mechanical switch design. This design not only simplifies the structure compared with previous multi-phase TENG and minimizes power loss, but enables a stable DC generation without post-management, which can be used directly to metal surface anti-corrosion. The experimental results show that the output current of this TENG with the mismatched number of triboelectric units (T) and electrodes (E) in 2T3E, 4T5E and 6T7E increases from 16.96 μA to 32.46 μA, achieving maximum power density of 33.20 mW with an external resistance of 80 MΩ. This enhancement in performance illustrates the effectiveness of the proposed design for harvesting and converting energy efficiently. Furthermore, the application of the mismatched MTE-TENG as a power source for metal surface anti-corrosion is explored. Through immersion experiments and electrochemical tests, the corrosion current decreases from 29.59 μA to 3.15 μA compared with bare carbon steel, which significant decreases in both anodic and cathodic branch currents, indicating the achievement of the anti-corrosion effect. This work provides a new way to achieve high DC output for metal surface anti-corrosion and realizes a green electrochemical anticorrosion process. [Display omitted] • New design of DC-TENG based on mismatched number of triboelectric units and coupling of electrodes to mechanical switches. • The dependence of output performance on the number of segmentation and rotational speed of the MTE-TENG is investigated. • The MTE-TENG can be directly used to metal surface anti-corrosion without post-management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We emphasize on innovative device designs and novel materials for energy harvesting and self-powered sensing. • The review discussed on the different type of self-powered gas sensors in terms of source gases and energy harvesters used. • The future prospective and opportunities for self-powered sensing has been discussed. Gas sensors play a crucial role in day-to-day life due to their application in leakage detection, environmental monitoring, and healthcare applications. Self-powered gas sensors (SPGS) are rapidly emerging, harnessing ambient energy sources. Various energy harvesting sources, such as photovoltaics, PENG, triboelectric nanogenerators, and thermoelectric generators, were used to design and fabricate SPGS. These devices provide uninterrupted power to gas sensors and replace bulkier, environmentally harmful batteries. In addition, these batteries require periodic replacement and frequent charging for their continuous operation. Although the field of SPGS was emerging, moving towards commercialization needed significant progress in device design, materials, and power management. This review focuses on innovative device designs, novel materials, and types of gas sensors reported so far, and the details are systematically categorized. Also, this review envisions and discusses the future trends in the SPGS and the potential path to commercialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-powered sensors detect a variety of crucial parameters for industrial processes without any external power source for Industry 4.0. It has capabilities to acquire, analyze, and make decisions on real-time data, these sensors are essential for the advancement of automated production systems and smart factories. In this regard, Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have potential to provide effective solution as self-powered vibration sensor for continuous monitoring of machine tools. Different techniques have been used to enhance the performance of TENG such as material doping, chemical etching, ion injection, etc. However, laser surface texturing is a low-cost, contact less, efficient technique which can be used for improving the response of TENG-based self-powered vibration sensors. In this context, Laser Induced Backside Texturing is a laser micro texturing approach to improve the electrical performance. It induces waviness and surface roughness, which leads to increased surface charge density and triboelectrification capabilities. In this work, laser micro texturing was performed using with 405 nm wavelength semiconductor diode laser to generate line pattern texture on the Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene (FEP). Laser textures TENG (LT-TENG) was developed with laser textured FEP as tribonegative material and pristine Aluminium as tribopositive material, the open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current and power density achieved 23 %, 41 %, and 47 % enhancement respectively, generating 794 V, 44 µA, and 2371.6 µW/cm2. This increase in output leads to an increased sensitivity of the sensor. When mounted on the machines, LT-TENG was able to detect their working state, vibration frequency, and harmonics i.e. 46, 92, 184 Hz for the vacuum pump and 140, 280, 410 Hz for the heat gun. These detected vibration frequencies, and their harmonics were similar to the frequencies detected by the commercial accelerometer (CTC AC115), confirming potential use of LT-TENG as a low-frequency vibration sensor. The developed LT-TENGs was integrated with the Internet of Things (IoT) supported microcontroller, which collects real-time data for continuous monitoring and analysis for machine health monitoring in smart devices. [Display omitted] • IoT-enabled Laser Textured TENG-based Self Energizing Vibration sensor is presented. • Single Triboelectric Nanogenerator acts as energy harvester and vibration sensor. • Laser Textured TENG have shown notable 41 % enhancement in current. • Laser Textured TENG improves the sensitivity towards vibration sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wearable sensors have essential impacts on the progress of intelligent technology, while the traditional sensors cannot meet the sensitivity requirements. Here, we propose a high performance intelligent triboelectric wearable sensor (HITWS) by Mica/Nylon composite nanofiber film (MCNF), which is fabricated by the electrospinning and dielectric particle doping process. The addition of Mica particles effectively improves the dielectric constant, surface charge density and functional group properties of MCNF and further optimizes its positive triboelectric properties. Therefore, the HITWS demonstrates significantly higher signal-to-noise ratio, sensitivity and power density (11.82 W/m2) compared to previous similar studies. Furthermore, based on HITWS, 4-channel STM32 signal acquisition and deep learning algorithm, an intelligent tactile sensing system is achieved. Combined with the structurally optimized VGG16 network model, the recognition of 7 kinds of objects can reach an average accuracy of 96.57 %. This work provides new idea and method for the development of applications based on object recognition, such as remote interaction, medical prosthetics and smart robots. [Display omitted] • A high performance intelligent triboelectric wearable sensor (HITWS) by Mica/Nylon composite film is proposed. • Mica can improve the microscopic properties of Nylon electrospun film and optimize its positive triboelectric property. • The HITWS demonstrates higher sensitivity (35.95 V/kPa) and power density (11.82 W/m2) compared to previous studies. • Combined with VGG16 model, the tactile sensing system is achieved for recognizing 7 kinds of objects (96.57 %). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triboelectric Nanogenerator (TENG) is capable of efficiently capturing mechanical energy and transforming it into electrical energy for self-powered systems, making it an ideal power source for Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal (PDLC). Herein, a Self-powered Intelligent Liquid Crystal Attenuator (SPILCA) is demonstrated for metasurface real-time modulating. The convergent beam-shaping metasurface consisting of holey meta-atoms with diameters ranging from 100 nm to 300 nm is fabricated by e-beam lithography (EBL). While the unique optical characteristics of the metasurface can be modulated within a certain frequency range, the E7 Liquid Crystal (E7-LC) has a large index of birefringence, and it can be powered by TENG to switch between two optical response states. Therefore, the combination of metasurface and SPILCA can achieve real-time control of metasurface by using the electricity regulatory of LC and the electromagnetic response of the metasurface. In order to build this SPILCA for metasurface modulating, a vertically contact-separated TENG based on Nylon electrospun film as triboelectric material is proposed. The maximum values of the open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, transferred charge are 165 V, 25 µA, and 86 nC, respectively. By measuring the optical power and testing the modulation effect of SPILCA on the metasurface, it can be seen that the SPILCA has a good modulation effect on the optical signal, and even can reach 96 % intensity modulation when the laser source wavelength is 450 nm and the current is 0.09 A. This self-powered photoelectric response device does not require additional electrical power supply, and has great potential in future smart optical system design. [Display omitted] • A TENG based on Nylon electrospun film as triboelectric material is proposed. • The TENG output is 165 V, 25 µA, and 86 nC, which can successfully provide electric energy for PDLC. • The convergent beam-shaping metasurface with holey meta-atoms (100-300 nm) is fabricated by e-beam lithography. • As the laser source wavelength is 450 nm and the current is 0.09 A, the intensity modulation can reach 96%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-sufficient power sources provide a promising application of abundant electronic devices utilized in detection of ambient properties. Recently, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have been widely investigated to broaden the self-powered systems by converting the ambient mechanical agitations into electrical voltage and current. Graphene oxide (GO), not only for sensing applications but also as a brilliant energy-related nanomaterial, provides a wide range of controllable bandgap energies, as well as facile synthesis route. In this study, GO-based self-powered photodetectors have been fabricated by conflating the photosensitivity and triboelectric characteristics of freestanding GO paper. In this regard, photodetection via TENGs has been investigated in two forms of active and passive circuits for ultraviolet (UV) and visible illumination. The photodetector responsivity upon UV enhanced from 0.011 mA Wâˆ'1 for conventional GO-photoresistors up to 13.41 mA Wâˆ'1 by active photodetection setup. Moreover, applying the active-TENG improved the efficiency from 0.25% (in passive TENG) to 4.21%. Our findings demonstrate that active TENGs might enable materials with insignificant optical response to represent considerably higher light-sensitivity by means of synergizing the effect of TENG output changes with opto-electronical properties of desired layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exhaust gas flow takes a vital position in the assessment of ship exhaust emissions, and it is essential to develop a self-powered and robust exhaust gas flow sensor in such a harsh working environment. In this work, a bearing type triboelectric nanogenerator (B-TENG) for exhaust gas flow sensing is proposed. The rolling of the steel balls on PTFE film leads to an alternative current generated, which realizes self-powered gas flow sensing. The influence of ball materials and numbers is systematically studied, and the B-TENG with six steel balls is confirmed according to the test result. After design optimization, it is successfully applied to monitor the gas flow with the linear correlation coefficient higher than 0.998 and high output voltage from 25 to 106 V within the gas flow of 2.5–14 m/s. Further, the output voltage keeps stable at 70 V under particulate matter concentration of 50–120 mg/m3. And the output performance of the B-TENG after heating at 180 °C for 10 min is also surveyed. Moreover, the mean error of the gas flow velocity by the B-TENG and a commercial gas flow sensor is about 0.73%. The test result shows its robustness and promising perspective in exhaust gas flow sensing. Therefore, the present B-TENG has a great potential to apply for self-powered and robust exhaust gas flow monitoring towards Green Ship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The theft prevention for cultural relics in museums, field excavation sites, and temporary exhibition events is of extreme importance. However, traditional anti-theft technologies such as infrared monitoring and radio frequency identification are highly costly, power-consuming, and easy to break. Here, a transparent, ultrathin, and flexible triboelectric sensor (TUFS) with a simple and low-cost method is proposed. With a thickness, weight, and transmittance of 92 µm, 0.12 g, and 89.4%, the TUFS manifests superb concealment. Benefiting from the characteristic of triboelectric nanogenerators, the TUFS responds effectively to common cultural-relic materials. Moreover, distinguished electrical responses can be obtained even for very small weights (10 g) and areas (1 cm2), proving the sensitivity and wide range of use of the TUFS. Finally, we construct a concealed cultural-relic anti-theft system that enables real-time alarming and accurate positioning of cultural relics, which is expected to strengthen the security level of the existing museum anti-theft systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of liquid energy exists in papermaking engineering and has not yet been developed and utilized. In addition, for the papermaking industry, the presence of slime can seriously affect the quality of the finished paper and can lead to paper breaking. The current slime control strategies cannot completely solve the problem and also have some low toxicity. In this study, a method of self-powered sterilization of cellulose fibers by using triboelectric pulsed direct current is reported. A liquid–solid triboelectric nanogenerator (L–S TENG) was used to convert the liquid energy of nanocellulose suspension into electrical energy and convert this electrical energy into pulsed direct current for self-powered sterilization of cellulose fiber. A hydrophobic coating material is used as solid triboelectric material and electrode for sterilization. Driven by L–S TENG, the electrodes exhibited an excellent sterilization rate against four microorganisms including Escherichia coli, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, which from slime in the papermaking industry. This study could provide a basic research theory for liquid energy harvesting in the papermaking industry, and also provide a new strategy for pulp sterilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has been recognized as a promising method for energy harvesting and self-powered devices. However, in order to improve the output efficiency of the TENG, it is necessary to change the types of dielectric materials, which requires advanced technology and a high cost to implement. To address this issue, we developed a parallel electrode magnetic-TENG (Mag-TENG) based on contact electrification of a liquid–solid interface under the effect of the magnetic field, which enhances the output performance of the TENG without having to develop the dielectric material. Our experimental results achieved a higher output of the TENG under the influence of a magnetic field when an increase of the magnetic field strength went from 0 to 360 mT, and the flow rate of unsteady seawater was variable from 390 to 690 mL/min. Specifically, compared to the without-magnetic field case, the output current increased by approximately 6.5 times and the output voltage by 2.7 times. These findings suggested that using a magnetic field to enhance the TENG’s efficiency has significant potential for energy harvesting from seawater and self-powered flow sensors.

Oil–water emulsions are a considerable hazard to the environment, ecology, and human health, if not appropriately treated. This study proposes a self‐powered and efficient triboelectric dehydrator (TED) based on a wind‐driven freestanding rotary triboelectric nanogenerator (FR‐TENG) to separate water‐in‐oil emulsions. This TED can form a high‐voltage electric field in the emulsion when the FR‐TENG is driven by mechanical energy. The dehydration performance of the TED is analyzed in detail through multiphysics‐coupled models and experiments. It is found that the TED can dehydrate water‐in‐oil emulsions with a wide range of initial moisture contents. In particular, even when the initial moisture content is 60%, which is near the phase inversion concentration of the emulsion, the dehydration rate of the TED can still reach 99.41%. In addition, the performance of TED is demonstrated in a simulated situation of wind, suggesting that the present TED has great potential application for separating oil–water emulsions by harvesting environmental energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the promising non-volatile memories (NVMs), resistive random access memory (RRAM) has attracted extensive attention. Conventional RRAM is deeply dependent on external power to induce resistance-switching, which restricts its applications. In this work, we have developed a self-powered RRAM that consists of a Pr0.7Ca0.3MnO3 (PCMO) film and a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). With a traditional power supply, the resistance switch ratio achieves the highest switching ratio reported so far, 9 × 107. By converting the mechanical energy harvested by a TENG into electrical energy to power the PCMO film, we demonstrate self-powered resistance-switching induced by mechanical movement. The prepared PCMO shows excellent performance of resistance switching driven by the TENG, and the resistance switch ratio is up to 2 × 105, which is higher than the ones ever reported. In addition, it can monitor real-time mechanical changes and has a good response to the electrical signals of different waveforms. This self-powered resistance switching can be induced by random movements based on the TENG. It has potential applications in the fields of self-powered sensors and human-machine interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the era of big data and the Internet of Things, the digital information of athletes is particularly significant in sports competitions. Here, an intelligent self-powered take-off board sensor (TBS) based on triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) with a solid-wooden substrate is provided for precise detection of athletes' take-off status in the sport of triple-jumping, which is sufficient for triple-jumping training judgment with a high accuracy of 1 mm. Meanwhile, a foul alarm system and a distance between the athlete's foot and take-off line (GAP) measurement system are further developed to provide take-off data for athletes and referees. The induced charges are formed by the TBS during taking-off, and then the real-time exercise data is acquired and processed via the test program. This work presents a self-powered sports sensor for intelligent sports monitoring and promotes the application of TENG-based sensors in intelligent sports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]