Nanogenerators and piezotronics: From scientific discoveries to technology breakthroughs

Abstract

Nanogenerators is a field that uses the piezoelectric and/or triboelectric effect for converting low-grade mechanical energy (termed as high-entropy energy) into electric power, with a great potential for applications in the Internet of Things, self-powered sensors, robotics, medical science, and even artificial intelligence. Piezotronics is a field that utilizes the piezoelectric polarization in third-generation semiconductors for controlling the charge-carrier transport in semiconductor devices. These two fields were first coined by Wang’s group in 2006 and 2007, respectively. This article reviews the background and initial ideas based on which we introduced the following original discoveries and effects: piezoelectric nanogenerators; triboelectric nanogenerators; self-powered sensor; hybrid cell; nano energy; high-entropy energy; piezotronics; and piezo-phototronics.