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Review
. 2023 Sep 6;13(9):872.
doi: 10.3390/bios13090872.

Skin-Contact Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Energy Harvesting and Motion Sensing: Principles, Challenges, and Perspectives

Ali Matin Nazar  1   2 , Reza Mohsenian  3 , Arash Rayegani  4 , Mohammadamin Shadfar  5 , Pengcheng Jiao  1   6
Affiliations
Review

Skin-Contact Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Energy Harvesting and Motion Sensing: Principles, Challenges, and Perspectives

Ali Matin Nazar et al. Biosensors (Basel). .

Abstract

Energy harvesting has become an increasingly important field of research as the demand for portable and wearable devices continues to grow. Skin-contact triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) technology has emerged as a promising solution for energy harvesting and motion sensing. This review paper provides a detailed overview of skin-contact TENG technology, covering its principles, challenges, and perspectives. The introduction begins by defining skin-contact TENG and explaining the importance of energy harvesting and motion sensing. The principles of skin-contact TENG are explored, including the triboelectric effect and the materials used for energy harvesting. The working mechanism of skin-contact TENG is also discussed. This study then moves onto the applications of skin-contact TENG, focusing on energy harvesting for wearable devices and motion sensing for healthcare monitoring. Furthermore, the integration of skin-contact TENG technology with other technologies is discussed to highlight its versatility. The challenges in skin-contact TENG technology are then highlighted, which include sensitivity to environmental factors, such as humidity and temperature, biocompatibility and safety concerns, and durability and reliability issues. This section of the paper provides a comprehensive evaluation of the technological limitations that must be considered when designing skin-contact TENGs. In the Perspectives and Future Directions section, this review paper highlights various advancements in materials and design, as well as the potential for commercialization. Additionally, the potential impact of skin-contact TENG technology on the energy and healthcare industries is discussed.

Keywords: energy harvesting; self-powered sensors; skin-contact TENG; structural health monitoring; triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG).

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
TENG modes: (contact separation mode, lateral sliding mode, single electrode mode, freestanding triboelectric layer mode) [17].
Figure 2
Figure 2
Principles of skin-contact triboelectric nanogenerator [68].
Figure 3
Figure 3
Energy harvesting for wearable devices: (a) Working mechanism of the DC F-TENG [93]. (b) Structural design of a WTNG to harvest mechanical energy from human motions [94]. (c) Structure design of the bracelet-like LM-TEMG for harvesting mechanical energy from arm shaking [95].
Figure 4
Figure 4
Energy harvesting for wearable devices: (a) Demonstrations of the TENG utilized to harvest biomechanical energy from different parts of the human body [96]. (b) Application of PP/AgH-TENG in self-powered sensing and energy harvesting [97].
Figure 5
Figure 5
Motion sensing for healthcare monitoring: (a) Structure design of starch triboelectric nanogenerator (S-TENG) for behavior monitoring [98]. (b) Sensing performance of PTA-TENG for different body motions [99]. (c) Schematic structure of the BSRW-TENG [100]. (d) Schematic illustration showing the basic structure of the NSTENG [77].
Figure 6
Figure 6
Motion sensing for healthcare monitoring: (a) Design principal of AC-TENG [101]. (b) Schematic diagram and photograph images of the integrated strain sensor and the bio-TENG on a bandage [87]. (c) Device structure, surface modification, and cytocompatibility of the iTENG [78]. (d) Structure design and application of single-electrode triboelectric nanogenerator (S-TENG) [102].
Figure 7
Figure 7
Integration of TENG with other technologies for motion sensing: (a) Application of hybrid PTNG for motion sensing [3]. (b) Self-powered versatile shoes based on hybrid nanogenerators [103]. (c) Schematic diagram of the HETNG designed for scavenging biomechanical energy in human balance control [104]. (d) Self-powered wearable bending wireless sensing with autonomous wake-up [105].
Figure 8
Figure 8
Integration TENG with other technologies for motion sensing: (a) Detection of different human motions and flexural measurement using the flexible multifunctional PAM/BTO composite film-based sensor [106]. (b) Flexible single-electrode triboelectric nanogenerators with MXene/PDMS composite film for biomechanical motion sensors [88]. (c) Design principal and application of PEDOT for Parkinson’s disease [107].
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