Dynamic Interfacial Electronics—Foundations, Scopes and Endless Frontiers of the Master Field

ABSTRACT

Interfaces in classical physics, chemistry, and electronics are typically treated as static boundaries, yet a growing body of research reveals that dynamically evolving interfaces can actively generate, manipulate, transport, and utilize both electronic and ionic processes at interfaces. It is well known that interface is the source of functionality; dynamic interfaces represents a major expansion of this source. This emergence leads us to coin a field of Dynamic Interfacial Electronics (DIFE) , which is a multidisciplinary field that investigates and exploits the fundamental electromechanical phenomena arising at dynamic interfaces, with contact‐electrification and piezoelectricity serving as two foundational physical mechanisms. By coupling mechanical motion, deformation, interfacial charge generation and transfer, polarization, and electronic processes, DIFE seeks to discover new physical phenomena, establish new principles of electronics, and enable disruptive technologies. DIFE is rooted in two pioneering scientific discoveries, nanogenerators and piezotronics, which established major foundations of the field and opened new approaches for converting mechanical interactions into electrical signals, energy, and electronic functionalities. Building upon these foundations, DIFE encompasses emerging phenomena and technologies including but not limited to piezoelectric nanogenerators, triboelectric nanogenerators, piezotronics, piezo‐phototronics, tribotronics, tribovoltaic effects, contact‐electro‐catalysis, contact‐electro‐chemistry, dynamic electric‐double‐layer, and the electrodynamics of mechanically driven media. This article is to elaborate the field of DIFE and introduce the sub‐fields that can be unified under the scope of DIFE, so that nanogenerators and piezotronics can be coherently integrated under one scientific major field. This is a milestone progress for guiding the development of the field with a broad and comprehensive impact. The broad perspective impact of DIFE on both fundamental science and technological applications is also outlined.