While human motion is a ubiquitous and sustainable source of mechanical energy, efficiently converting motion into stable electrical energy remains a significant challenge. The tribovoltaic effect is a newly discovered semiconductor effect that can directly convert mechanical energy into electrical energy, indicating great potential in human motion energy harvesting and wearable self-powered sensing. The development of tribovoltaic nanogenerators (TVNGs) in recent years has enabled the efficient harvesting of subtle mechanical energy from the human body, providing an innovative strategy for self-powered wearable electronic systems. This review summarises recent advancements in human motion energy harvesting and self-powered sensing based on the tribovoltaic effect, focusing on their working principles, structural designs and representative applications. These advancements’ electrical output characteristics, sensing mechanisms and performance under the complex physiological environments of the human body are systematically analysed. Key challenges and prospects for realising flexible, durable and biocompatible tribovoltaic devices are also discussed. This review ultimately aims to provide new insights and valuable references for advancing the tribovoltaic effect towards human motion energy harvesting and intelligent wearable electronics. • The tribovoltaic effect converts mechanical energy into direct-current electricity. • Human-motion energy is efficiently harvested to power wearable electronics. • Advanced designs and materials enhance flexibility, power output, and durability. • Self-powered systems enable real-time monitoring of physiological activities.
Luo et al. (Sun,) studied this question.