Nature Driven Bio-Piezoelectric/Triboelectric Nanogenerator as Next-Generation Green Energy Harvester for Smart and Pollution Free Society

Abstract

Electronics wastes (e-wastes) are the major concern in the rapid expansion of smart/wearable/portable electronics in modern high-tech society. Informal processing and enormous gathering of e-wastes can lead to adverse human/animal health effects and environmental pollution worldwide. Currently, these issues are a big headache and require the scientific community to develop effective green energy harvesting technologies using biodegradable/biocompatible materials. Piezoelectric/triboelectric nanogenerators (PNGs/TNGs) are considered one of the most promising renewable green energy sources for the conversion of mechanical/biomechanical energies into electricity. However, organic/inorganic material based PNGs/TNGs are very much incompatible, and considered e-wastes for their non-biodegradability. This review covers potential uses of biodegradable/biocompatible materials which are wasted every day as nature driven material based bio-nanogenerators with a particular focus on their applications in flexible PNGs/TNGs fabrication. Structural investigation and possible working principles are described first in order to outline the basic mechanism of bio-inspired materials behind energy harvesting. Then, energy harvesting abilities and the mechanical sensing of bio-inspired integrated flexible devices are discussed under various mechanical/biomechanical activities. Finally, their potential applications in various flexible, wearable, and portable electronic fields are demonstrated. These bio-inspired energy harvesting devices can make huge changes in fields as diverse as portable electronics, in vitro/in vivo biomedical applications, and many more.