Energy Harvesting Systems Based on Nanogenerator Technologies

Energy harvesting systems based on nanogenerator technologies convert ambient mechanical, biomechanical and environmental energy into electrical power via micro- and nanoscale materials and structures. Two principal classes of nanogenerators have emerged: triboelectric and piezoelectric. Triboelectric nanogenerators harness contact electrification and electrostatic induction between dissimilar surfaces to generate charge separation, while piezoelectric nanogenerators exploit strain-induced polarisation in ferroelectric materials to produce current. Advances in material synthesis, micro- and nanostructuring, and integrated power-management circuits have substantially enhanced power density, durability and flexibility. Standardised figures of merit and quantitative triboelectric series now provide robust frameworks for comparing performance across diverse configurations. Hybrid systems that couple energy harvesting with storage modules enable stable, self-charging platforms suitable for low-power electronics. Applications range from wearable health monitors and implantable sensors to autonomous environmental detectors, ocean wave energy converters and distributed Internet of Things networks. Innovative architectures—such as origami-inspired designs, self-charge excitation circuits and composite nanomaterials—have propelled output densities closer to practical thresholds. These developments promise sustainable, maintenance-free power solutions in remote or mobile scenarios, reducing reliance on conventional batteries and enabling new paradigms in pervasive sensing and portable electronics.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Standardised performance metrics have been established to guide the development of triboelectric nanogenerators, introducing structural and material figures of merit that align device architecture with output charge density. This framework allows systematic comparison across different modes of mechanical triggering and informs optimised designs for enhanced energy conversion efficiency.

An experimental approach to quantify the triboelectric series has yielded a universal methodology for measuring normalised surface charge density of polymers under controlled conditions. By providing a quantitative ranking of materials’ tendencies to gain or lose electrons, this work underpins rational selection of contact pairs to maximise nanogenerator output.

The integration of self-charge excitation mechanisms within triboelectric nanogenerator systems has been demonstrated via voltage-multiplying circuits, achieving stable high-density charge accumulation without external charge injection. This bio-inspired excitation strategy enhances output reliability and paves the way for scalable, high-power nanogenerators in practical applications.

Energy Harvesting Systems Based on Nanogenerator Technologies publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in energy harvesting systems based on nanogenerator technologies across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG): A device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy through contact electrification and electrostatic induction between two materials.

Piezoelectric nanogenerator (PENG): A device that generates electricity by exploiting the electric polarisation induced in piezoelectric materials under mechanical strain.

Surface charge density: The amount of electric charge per unit area on a material surface, a key parameter determining nanogenerator output.

Figure of merit: A dimensionless metric combining material and structural properties to assess and compare energy conversion performance across nanogenerator designs.

Electromechanical coupling factor: A measure of efficiency in converting mechanical energy to electrical energy in piezoelectric materials.

References

1. A self-damping triboelectric tactile patch for self-powered wearable electronics. eScience (2025).
2. High‐performance triboelectric nanogenerator based on a double‐spiral zigzag‐origami structure for continuous sensing and signal transmission in marine environment. Interdisciplinary Materials (2024).
3. Quantifying the triboelectric series. Nature Communications (2019).
4. Standards and figure-of-merits for quantifying the performance of triboelectric nanogenerators. Nature Communications (2015).
5. Integrated charge excitation triboelectric nanogenerator. Nature Communications (2019).
6. Effective energy storage from a triboelectric nanogenerator. Nature Communications (2016).
7. A comprehensive review on the state-of-the-art of piezoelectric energy harvesting. Nano Energy (2021).