Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Scientific Instruments and Devices

As one of the few self-powered instruments and devices, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have been developed for more than 10 years since its invention in 2012. With wide material selections and diverse design structures, and without having to use an external power supply, TENG has been applied in many key technologies. By the end of 2022, more than 16,000 researchers from 83 countries and regions around the world have authored scientific papers in TENG. In this review, we start from the theoretical principles and working mechanisms of TENG, and discuss its 5 major fields of application, namely, as self-powered sensors, high-voltage energy devices, blue energy devices, micro/nano-energy devices, and solid–liquid interface probes. Next, we review the breakthrough progress made using TENG as commercial products in the following fields: medical health, intelligent security, and marine energy. Finally, we look forward to the future fields of application of TENG as advanced instruments and devices, especially in fluid dynamics sensing and aerospace fields. We firmly believe that various instruments and devices based on TENG technology will better serve the progress of human civilization.