A generic electromagnetic model for the working principles of triboelectric nanogenerators derived using Maxwell's equations, to a universally applicable framework.

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are in the forefront of next‐generation energy harvesting technologies, having been demonstrated as a leading candidate for numerous applications in energy harvesting and self‐powered sensing. However, critical parameters affecting TENG output behavior and their optimization are not well understood. Herein, for the first time, the power output characteristics of TENGs are fully unveiled by vigorously analyzing their impedance behavior as a function of excitation source and device parameters. In this paper, Norton's theorem, first presented in 1926 for two terminal linear electrical networks, is extended to represent TENGs, allowing accurate visualization of their dynamic power output behavior via small signal analysis. TENG impedance plots are introduced to accurately determine the peak power point of a given design, which holds paramount importance in understanding and improving TENGs. The knowledge with empirical understanding for these variations results in the design and construction of more efficient TENG devices for future applications.

Electronic waste produced by plastic, toxic, and semiconducting components of existing electronic devices is dramatically increasing environmental pollution. To overcome these issues, the use of eco-friendly materials for designing such devices is attaining much attention. This current work presents a recycled material-based triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) made of plastic waste and carbon-coated paper wipes ([email protected]), in which the PWs are also collected from a waste bin. The resultant [email protected] TENG is then used for powering low-power electronic devices and, later, to generate a Morse code from a wearable for autonomous communication. In this application, the end users decode the Morse code from a customized LabVIEW program and read the transmitted signal. With further redesigning, a 9-segment keyboard is developed using nine-TENGs, connected to an Arduino controller to display the 9-segment actuation on a computer screen. Based on the above analysis, our [email protected] device is expected to have an impact on future self-powered sensors and internet of things systems.

Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is an upcoming technology to harvest energy from ambient movements. A major focus herein is harvesting energy from human movements through wearable TENGs, which are constructed by integrating nanogenerators into clothing or accessories. Textile-based TENGs, which include fiber, yarn, and fabric-based TENG structures, account for the majority of wearable TENGs, with many designs and applications demonstrated recently. This calls for a comprehensive analysis of textile-based TENG technology, and how the state-of-the-art device optimization concepts can be deployed to construct them efficiently. Concurrently, how advanced engineering concepts and industrial manufacturing techniques, which are bound with fiber, yarn, and fabric-related developments, can be applied into the TENG context for their output enhancement is still under investigation. Herein, we fill this vital gap by analyzing the state-of-the-art developments, upcoming trends, output optimization strategies, scalability, and prospects of the textile-based TENG technology, presenting a textile engineering perspective.