Recent Advances in Self-powered Sensors Based on Nanogenerators: From Material and Structural Design to Cutting-Edge Sensing Applications

The utilization of sensors has become indispensable in the advent of an intelligent era characterized by artificial intelligence, 5G communication, big data, and other cutting-edge technologies. Traditional sensors require external power sources or batteries, resulting in a complex sensing system that does not promote the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly applications for health monitoring. In recent years, the electrical output and stability of piezoelectric, triboelectric, thermoelectric, and hybrid nanogenerators have been significantly improved, enabling their widespread role in the development of self-powered sensors. The sensors are capable of performing sensing tasks by converting their own energy, thereby obviating the need for an external power supply. In this paper, we initially explore the operating mechanisms, device materials, and structures of diverse nanogenerators and evaluate their output efficacy. Subsequently, we showcase the latest advancements in self-powered sensor systems, spanning various fields such as biomedical and healthcare, wearable devices, sound monitoring, smart vehicles, environmental monitoring, and smart cities. The paper also explores the future potential of self-powered sensor systems, in addition to discussing their practical applications.