A Comprehensive Review of Tribovoltaic Nanogenerators for Real‐World Multidisciplinary Applications, Challenges, and Future Perspectives

ABSTRACT

The rising global energy demand has intensified the pursuit of sustainable and efficient energy solutions. In this pursuit, nanogenerators have developed as transformative tools for converting ambient mechanical energy into electricity. Among them, tribovoltaic nanogenerators (TVNGs) have garnered significant attention due to their ability to directly convert mechanical friction to direct current (DC) electricity via the tribovoltaic effect. Since their inception in 2018, TVNGs have undergone rapid advancements through innovation in materials, interface engineering, and structural design, enabling diverse device configurations. This review systematically summarizes the fundamental tribovoltaic mechanisms, interface‐dependent charge transport processes, and customized device architectures of TVNGs. Furthermore, the review establishes relationships between material selection, interface design, device architecture, and application‐specific performance requirements, providing practical design guidelines for healthcare and biomedical systems, pollution remediation, environmental monitoring, emergency response technologies, smart industrial monitoring, and next‐generation self‐powered sensors. Finally, emerging research directions, including standardized performance benchmarking, technology readiness level (TRL)‐based commercialization pathways, AI‐assisted materials discovery, biodegradable and transient TVNGs, and scalable manufacturing strategies, are comprehensively discussed. By integrating fundamental tribovoltaic science with application‐driven engineering perspectives, this review provides a comprehensive roadmap for accelerating the development and real‐world implementation of TVNG‐based self‐powered technologies across diverse multidisciplinary applications.