Marine Biomaterial-based Triboelectric Nanogenerators: Insights and Applications

The push for green and eco-friendly materials has intensified, driven by the mounting environmental concerns associated with traditional petroleum-based products. As land resources shrink and space for development narrows, marine biomaterials have emerged as a promising alternative over the past decades. Well-known for their vast availability, outstanding biocompatibility, impressive biodegradability, and minimal toxicity, marine biomaterials present an ideal foundation for developing eco-friendly triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). In this review, we present the evolution of TENGs based on marine biomaterials, from their core working principles to their multifaceted applications. We begin by elucidating the operational modes and foundational principles of TENGs. Next, we highlight the intrinsic qualities and advantages of marine biomaterials commonly utilized in TENG designs. Additionally, we discuss approaches adopted to amplify the efficacy of TENGs derived from marine biomaterials. A synthesis of documented applications of these TENGs from existing literature is then presented. We finally discuss the existing challenges and future directions in marine biomaterial-inspired TENGs.