In situ conversion of mechanical energy into electricity is a feasible solution to satisfy the increasing power demand of the Internet of Things (IoTs). A triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is considered as a potential solution via building self-powered systems. Based on the triboelectrification effect and electrostatic induction, a conventional TENG with pulsed AC output characteristics always needs rectification and energy storage units to obtain a constant DC output to drive electronic devices. Here, we report a next-generation TENG, which realizes constant current (crest factor, ~1) output by coupling the triboelectrification effect and electrostatic breakdown. Meanwhile, a triboelectric charge density of 430 mC m−2 is attained, which is much higher than that of a conventional TENG limited by electrostatic breakdown. The novel DC-TENG is demonstrated to power electronics directly. Our findings not only promote the miniaturization of self-powered systems used in IoTs but also provide a paradigm-shifting technique to harvest mechanical energy.

Motion vector sensors play an important role in artificial intelligence and internet of things. Here, a triboelectric vector sensor (TVS) based on a directcurrent triboelectric nanogenerator is reported, for self-powered measuring various motion parameters, including displacement, velocity, acceleration, angular, and angular velocity. Based on the working mechanism of the contact-electrification effect and electrostatic breakdown, a continuous DC signal can be collected to directly monitor moving objects free from environmental electromagnetic signal interference existing in conventional self-powered TVSs with an alternative-current signal output, which not only enhances the sensitivity of sensors, but also provides a simple solution to miniaturize the sensors. Its sensitivity is demonstrated to be equivalent to state-of-the-art photoelectric technology by a comparative experiment in an intelligent mouse. Notably, an intelligent pen based on the miniaturized TVS is designed to realize motion trajectory tracing, mapping, and writing on the curved surface. This work provides a new paradigm shift to design motion vector sensors and self-powered sensors in artificial intelligent and internet of things.

Electrostatic breakdown is a common but generally negative physical phenomenon. Here, efficient conversion of mechanical energy to electric power is achieved by enhanced direct‐current triboelectric nanogenerator (DC‐TENG) based on contact electrification and electrostatic breakdown. By verifying the high temperature can not only improve the triboelectric charge density but also enhance electrostatic breakdown of air dielectric due to thermionic emission of electrons and avalanche breakdown effect. Meanwhile an appropriate low atmosphere pressure is another favorable factor to air breakdown in DC‐TENG. As a result, its output power density is improved by three orders of magnitude at 473 K and 300 Pa compared to that at 298 K and standard atmosphere pressure. These findings not only provide a new paradigm to design high‐performance TENG, but realize efficiently harvesting mechanical energy and thermal energy in one device by coupling the two kinds of physical effects.