Hybrid Energy-Harvesting Systems Based on Triboelectric Nanogenerators

Energy harvesting plays an important role in developing power-independent electronics such as wearables, implantable devices, monitoring networks, and robotics. The triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), a novel promising energy-harvesting technology, has attracted increasing attention across a broad range of applications from self-powered sensing to implantable medical devices to blue energy. However, a comprehensive review associated with the TENG-based hybrid energy system is lacking. Here, we systematically summarize the recent advances in the TENG-based hybrid energy-harvesting system with a focus on the concept designs and significant applications of the hybrid devices in various fields. The major hybridization designs through unique combinations of electromagnetic nanogenerators (NGs), piezoelectric NGs, solar cells, and thermo-/pyroelectric NGs with TENGs are discussed in detail for self-charging power units, self-powered biomedical systems, wearable electronics, environment-monitoring systems, and blue energy-harvesting facilities. We finally discuss the major challenges and perspectives for the future development of hybrid energy-harvesting systems.