review · Small
Triboelectric nanogenerators offer significant promise for harvesting environmental energy across diverse domains, including self-powered sensing systems, flexible wearable electronics, and marine corrosion protection. Despite these opportunities, broader technological development faces limitations due to low output power, an issue fundamentally governed by surface charge density. Addressing this bottleneck requires careful selection and systematic optimisation of triboelectric materials. Multiple technical strategies exist to boost surface charge density, encompassing environmental regulation, charge excitation, charge pumping, electrostatic breakdown, charge trapping, and liquid-solid interface designs. While substantial progress has been documented across these varied approaches, fundamental technical hurdles persist in sustaining and maximising charge accumulation. Overcoming these existing challenges remains essential for unlocking the full operational potential of triboelectric energy harvesting systems across target application sectors.
Triboelectric nanogenerators could provide autonomous, maintenance-free power for next-generation portable electronics, environmental monitoring networks, and protective systems. However, their real-world utility depends on generating adequate electrical power from ambient mechanical movements. Examining methods to boost surface charge density is crucial for transforming low-power prototypes into viable, practical energy sources for everyday applications.
The technologies discussed target use in self-powered sensors, flexible wearables, and marine corrosion protection systems, appealing to electronics and protective coatings manufacturers. Because the work reviews fundamental material optimisation and physical charge-enhancement methods while highlighting unresolved technical challenges, the underlying technology remains in early-stage research rather than ready for immediate deployment.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have manifested a remarkable potential for harvesting environmental energy and have the prospects to be utilized for various uses, for instance, self-powered sensing devices, flexible wearables, and marine corrosion protection. However, the potential for further development of TENGs is restricted on account of their low output power that in turn is determined by their surface charge density. The current review majorly focuses on the selection and optimization of triboelectric materials. Subsequently, various methods capable of enhancing the surface charge density of TENGs, including environmental regulation, charge excitation, charge pumping, electrostatic breakdown, charge trapping, and liquid-solid structure are comprehensively reviewed. Lastly, the review is concluded by highlighting the existing challenges in enhancing the surface charge density of TENGs and exploring potential opportunities for future research endeavors in this area.
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DOI: 10.1002/smll.202308469
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