Transparent flexible stretchable piezoelectric and triboelectric nanogenerators for powering portable electronics

The future is about powering portable electronics using the sole power of piezoelectric and triboelectric nanogenerators and the possibility of replacing a battery for building self-powered systems. Although in the past few years significant effort has been poured into the fabrication of flexible nanogenerators and self-powered nanosensors, there still exist a number of significant issues that need to be addressed and explored. The first challenge will be the hybridization of nanogenerators with an energy storage unit to form a self-charged power pack. In addition, it is crucial to find various approaches that can produce electric power on a large scale and increase the total current from the nanogenerators. Moreover, with the improvement of fabrication techniques, other unique self-powered wireless systems, wearable devices, transparent display panels and various bio-implanted medical devices with an independent and sustainable energy supply may be designed.