Metal-free triboelectric nanogenerators for application in wearable electronics

Abstract

The development of self-powered systems applied in wearable electronics based on triboelectric nanogenerators introduces advances in the internet of Things, wireless communication, and biomedical fields. For this, efforts have been conducted to substitute metal-based electronics with non-conventional components such as conducting polymers, carbon derivatives, and inonogels providing better wearability, comfort, self-healability, mechanical resistance, and ease of integration with textiles. In particular, the conversion of pulsed output in triboelectric nanogenerators into DC power is helpful to drive electronics by the direct association of energy harvesting systems and energy storage devices that can be assembled in the same framework (metal-free electrodes). In this review, the multifunctionality of metal-free TENGs is discussed in light of the development of new autonomous wearable devices.