Energy Harvesting Devices: A Review of Triboelectric Nanogenerator and its Applications

Abstract

A portable or self-powered power source is required to meet the current energy demand. Conventional energy sources are depleting or resulting in an environmental impact. Energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydropower are much studied to harvest renewable energy and storage for future use. But with emerging wearable, smart devices, and health monitoring devices the need for self-powered devices is growing rapidly. These devices can be powered using traditional batteries, but it has certain limitations and concerns. Energy harvesting devices such as nanogenerators are booming as they can generate electricity from applications for self-powered systems, sensors, the Internet of Things (IoT), medical devices, and Biomechanical energy harvesting. The invention of nanogenerators paved the way for lightweight, flexible, easy-to-fabricate, and low-maintenance devices for applications such as energy harvesting and self-powered devices. In this paper, various types of nanogenerators, their fabrication techniques, and their applications are studied and outlined.