Piezoelectric Nanogenerators Derived Self‐Powered Sensors for Multifunctional Applications and Artificial Intelligence

• Published in: Advanced functional materials Vol. 31; no. 33
• Main Authors: Cao, Xiaole, Xiong, Yao, Sun, Jia, Zhu, Xiaoxiao, Sun, Qijun, Wang, Zhong Lin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.08.2021
• Subjects: active sensors; Artificial intelligence; Energy harvesting; Environmental monitoring; Internet of Things; Materials science; multifunction; Nanogenerators; piezoelectric nanogenerators; Piezoelectricity; Sensors; Touch screens
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202102983

With the arrival of the Internet of Things (IoTs) era, there is a growing requirement for systems with many sensor nodes in a variety of fields of applications. The demands for wireless, sustainable and independent operation are becoming more and more important for large‐scale sensor networks and systems. For these purposes, a self‐powered sensory system that can utilize the self‐harvested energy from its surroundings to drive the sensors and directly sense external stimuli has attracted great attention. The invention and rapid development of piezoelectric generators (PENGs), which take Maxwell's displacement current as the driving force, has been pushing forward research on self‐powered active mechanical sensors, electronic skins, and human‐robotic interaction. Here, this review starts with a brief introduction of piezoelectric materials, fabrication, and performance improvement. Then, the energy harvesters used for self‐power systems based on recent progress are reviewed. After that, PENGs applications toward recent self‐powered active sensors are divided into four aspects and highlighted, respectively. Moreover, some challenges and future directions for the self‐powered multifunctional sensors are put forward. It is believed that through the continuous investigations into PENG‐based self‐powered active sensors, they will soon be used in touch screens, electronic skins, health care, environmental monitoring, and intelligence systems. This review paper delivers a comprehensive discussion on the recent development of piezoelectric nanogenerators, covering the typical piezoelectric materials, fabrication process, strategies for the enhancement of piezoelectric performance, self‐powered sensors for multifunctional applications, and artificial intelligence. Future challenges and potential research directions for the self‐powered multifunctional sensors are also involved.