Structural Flexibility in Triboelectric Nanogenerators: A Review on the Adaptive Design for Self-Powered Systems

There is an increasing need for structural flexibility in self-powered wearable electronics and other Internet of Things (IoT), where adaptable triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) play a key role in realizing the true potential of IoT by endowing the latter with self-sustainability. Thus, in this review, the topic was restricted to the adaptive design of TENGs with structural flexibility that aims to promote the sustainable operation of various smart electronics. This review begins with an emphatical discussion of the concept of flexible electronics and TENGs, and continues with the introduction of TENG-based self-powered intelligent systems while placing the emphasis on self-powered flexible intelligent devices. Self-powered healthcare sensors, e-skins, and other intelligent wearable electronics with enhanced intelligence and efficiency in practical applications due to the integration with TENGs are illustrated, along with an emphasis on the design strategy of structural flexibility of TENGs and the associated integration schemes. This review aims to cover recent achievements in the field of self-powered systems, and provides information on how flexibility or adaptability in TENGs can be adopted, their types, and why they are required in promoting advanced IoT applications with sustainability and intelligence algorithms.

Automated summary

This review provides a detailed introduction to the increasing need for structural flexibility in self-powered wearable electronics and IoT, and highlights the key role of adaptable triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) in realizing the potential of IoT. The review focuses on the concept of flexible electronics and TENGs, and introduces TENG-based self-powered intelligent systems with an emphasis on flexible intelligent devices. It illustrates the integration of TENGs in self-powered healthcare sensors, e-skins, and other wearable electronics to enhance intelligence and efficiency, and discusses the design strategy of structural flexibility of TENGs. The review aims to cover recent achievements in self-powered systems, providing information on the adoption, types, and importance of flexibility in TENGs for advanced IoT applications.