Built-In Piezoelectric Nanogenerators Promote Sustainable and Flexible Supercapacitors: A Review

Abstract

Energy storage devices such as supercapacitors (SCs), if equipped with built-in energy harvesters such as piezoelectric nanogenerators, will continuously power wearable electronics and become important enablers of the future Internet of Things. As wearable gadgets become flexible, energy items that can be fabricated with greater compliance will be crucial, and designing them with sustainable and flexible strategies for future use will be important. In this review, flexible supercapacitors designed with built-in nanogenerators, mainly piezoelectric nanogenerators, are discussed in terms of their operational principles, device configuration, and material selection, with a focus on their application in flexible wearable electronics. While the structural design and materials selection are highlighted, the current shortcomings and challenges in the emerging field of nanogenerators that can be integrated into flexible supercapacitors are also discussed to make wearable devices more comfortable and sustainable. We hope this work may provide references, future directions, and new perspectives for the development of electrochemical power sources that can charge themselves by harvesting mechanical energy from the ambient environment.

Ferroelectric Material in Triboelectric Nanogenerator

“…An external load receives the current output produced by the electrodes’ relative motion back and forth in order to convert energy. In this mode, there is no electrostatic shielding effect, which improves output performance [ 87 ]. Moreover, due to its user-friendly nature, versatility, and exceptional effectiveness, FT-TENG may be applied to many friction surfaces, encompassing diverse materials and forms.…”