Development of nanogenerators in wearable electronics

Abstract

This chapter reviews the progress of research development in soft and flexible electric generators for harvesting mechanical energy based on piezoelectric and triboelectric effects. In particular, it covers the operating principles, materials selection and synthesis, device structures, fabrication methods, and performance of two types of soft and flexible generators, that is, piezoelectric and triboelectric nanogenerators (PENGs and TENGs). Benchmark analysis is carried out for both PENGs and TENGs. Various applications of the technology for powering wearable or portable electronics are demonstrated. Towards this end, critical issues and great challenges of soft and flexible TENGs and PENGs are discussed.