Recent Advances in Lubricant-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Enhancing Mechanical Lifespan and Electrical Output

A triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is a noteworthy mechanical energy harvester that can convert mechanical energy into electricity by combining triboelectrification and electrostatic induction. However, owing to the nature of its working mechanism, TENGs have critical limitations in mechanical and electrical aspects, which prevent them from being utilized as primary power sources. To overcome these limitations, several studies are turning their attention to utilizing lubricants, which is a traditional method recently applied to TENGs. In this review, we introduce recent advances in lubricant-based TENGs that can effectively enhance their electrical output and mechanical lifespan. In addition, this review provides an overview of lubricant-based TENGs. We hope that, through this review, researchers who are trying to overcome mechanical and electrical limitations to expand the applications of TENGs in industries will be introduced to the use of lubricant materials.