Issue 39, 2024

Biocompatible triboelectric energy generators (BT-TENGs) for energy harvesting and healthcare applications

Abstract

Electronic waste (e-waste) has become a significant environmental and societal challenge, necessitating the development of sustainable alternatives. Biocompatible and biodegradable electronic devices offer a promising solution to mitigate e-waste and provide viable alternatives for various applications, including triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in biocompatible, biodegradable, and implantable TENGs, emphasizing their potential as energy scavengers for healthcare devices. The review delves into the fabrication processes of self-powered TENGs using natural biopolymers, highlighting their biodegradability and compatibility with biological tissues. It further explores the biomedical applications of ultrasound-based TENGs, including their roles in wound healing and energy generation. Notably, the review presents the novel application of TENGs for vagus nerve stimulation, demonstrating their potential in neurotherapeutic interventions. Key findings include the identification of optimal biopolymer materials for TENG fabrication, the effectiveness of TENGs in energy harvesting from physiological movements, and the potential of these devices in regenerative medicine. Finally, the review discusses the challenges in scaling up the production of implantable TENGs from biomaterials, addressing issues such as mechanical stability, long-term biocompatibility, and integration with existing medical devices, outlining future research opportunities to enhance their performance and broaden their applications in the biomedical field.

Graphical abstract: Biocompatible triboelectric energy generators (BT-TENGs) for energy harvesting and healthcare applications

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
29 شوال 1445
Accepted
07 ربيع الأول 1446
First published
09 ربيع الأول 1446

Nanoscale, 2024,16, 18251-18273

Biocompatible triboelectric energy generators (BT-TENGs) for energy harvesting and healthcare applications

S. G. Ramaraj, D. Elamaran, H. Tabata, F. Zhang and X. Liu, Nanoscale, 2024, 16, 18251 DOI: 10.1039/D4NR01987C

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements