The triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), as a novel energy harvesting technology, has garnered widespread attention. As a relatively young field in nanogenerator research, investigations into various aspects of the TENG are still ongoing. This review summarizes the development and dissemination of the fundamental principles of triboelectricity generation. It outlines the evolution of triboelectricity principles, ranging from the fabrication of the first TENG to the selection of triboelectric materials and the confirmation of the electron cloud overlapping model. Furthermore, recent advancements in TENG application scenarios are discussed from four perspectives, along with the research progress in performance optimization through three primary approaches, highlighting their respective strengths and limitations. Finally, the paper addresses the major challenges hindering the practical application and widespread adoption of TENGs, while also providing insights into future developments. With continued research on the TENG, it is expected that these challenges can be overcome, paving the way for its extensive utilization in various real-world scenarios.

A facile method of synthesizing γ-Fe₂O₃ ultrathin nanoplates has been developed. These nanoplates are single crystalline and superparamagnetic at room temperature, with a thickness of only 1.4 nm. FTIR analysis has shown that the coordination mode between Fe and carboxyl group is dominated by bidentate configuration in the as prepared iron oleate complex, which is the key for producing the nanoplate morphology. By changing the reaction temperatures, the lateral size and thickness of nanoplates can be varied.