A triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) can convert energy in the surrounding environment to electricity. Therefore, in recent years, research related to TENGs has significantly increased owing to its simple and low-cost manufacturing process, high portability, and high efficiency. The principle of the TENG lies in the coupling effect of contact electrification and electrostatic induction. Its output performance is directly proportional to the square of the surface charge density, which is related to friction materials. To increase the output power of a TENG and continuously provide electricity for other electronic equipment, many scholars have conducted detailed studies on the triboelectric properties of materials. Particularly, there has been research interest in the chemical functionalization of TENGs due to their unique advantages, such as high triboelectric charge density, durability, stability, and self-cleaning properties. This Progress Report highlights the research progress in chemical modification methods for improving the charge density of TENGs, and classifies their modification methods according to their mechanisms. The effects of chemical reaction, surface chemical treatment, and chemical substance doping on the output performance of TENGs are systematically elaborated. Furthermore, the applications of chemically modified TENG in self-powered sensors and emerging fields, including wearable electronic devices, human-machine interfaces, and implantable electronic devices, are introduced. Lastly, the challenges faced in the future developments of chemical modification methods are discussed, thereby guiding researchers to the use of chemical modification methods for the improvement of charge density for further exploration.

The high‐efficiency conversion of water drop mechanical energy into electrical energy has always been an urgent issue in the development and utilization of raindrop energy. In this work, a novel drum‐like triboelectric nanogenerator (D‐TENG) with robust self‐cleaning superhydrophobic features is developed to harvest water drop energy. An elastic superhydrophobic cellulose paper is created by spray‐coating nanofumed silica dispersed in a thermoplastic elastomer solution, followed by treatment with triethoxy‐1H,1H,2H,2H‐tridecafluoro‐n‐octylsilane. When raindrops hit the D‐TENG surface, the superhydrophobic cellulose paper will vibrate and periodic contact and separation with polytetrafluoroethylene will occur to generate electricity. The results demonstrate that when a 6 mm water drop falls from a height of 2.5 m and hits the D‐TENG, the generated voltage output can reach a peak of 21.6 V and charge transfer of 10 nC. The output power of the D‐TENG can reach 16 µW per droplet, which is more than 13.3 times that generated from the previous TENGs based on the electrostatic induction of water droplets. These results indicate that the superhydrophobic cellulose paper‐based D‐TENG is potentially a strong candidate for harvesting energy from raindrops, thereby making it a promising sustainable energy source for next‐generation electronics.

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Excellent triboelectric charge density and hydrophobicity are achieved on cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) by employing a simple and environmentally friendly approach to aminosilane modification of a CNF film. The positive charges on the CNF surface obtain gigantic enhancement, and a CNF-based triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) with enhanced performance and moisture resistance is prepared. The performance of this functional CNF-based TENG can show outstanding output stability when the environmental humidity is 70%. Meanwhile, this TENG can respond to a variety of human activities, including pressing, stretching, bending, and twisting, indicating outstanding flexibility, and it can still be used to monitor the state of human movement in a human sweat environment. This work is expected to provide more insights and possibilities for application of such a functional CNF-based TENG in self-powered wearable electronics.

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Using clean and sustainable stochastic energy from the environment to eliminate pollution caused by gaseous aldehydes would be an effective strategy to achieve the sustainable development of energy and preserve the environment. Here, a piston-based triboelectric nanogenerator (P-TENG) was used to enhance gaseous acetaldehyde absorption and photocatalytic degradation. An external electric field could be generated on a conductive substrate by the P-TENG, converting wind energy into electricity. This made it possible to efficiently degrade gaseous acetaldehyde in the photocatalytic system. Driven by a light breeze (3.0 m/s), the acetaldehyde removal rate of the system reached 63% within 30 min. The presence of an external electric field could generate more hydroxyl radicals (•OH), superoxide radicals (•O2 –), and holes (h+), which has a positive effect on the photocatalytic degradation of acetaldehyde. The design and concept of this study not only realized the efficient conversion of renewable and sustainable random energy but also could be applied to the efficient removal of gaseous aldehydes, providing an effective way to create a cleaner environment.