Triboelectric energy harvesting technologies have received a substantial amount of attention as they constitute one of the most efficient ways of transforming vibrational and frictional energy into electrical energy, regardless of location and environmental conditions. One of the most significant advantages of this technology is in the suitability of a very wide range of materials that can be readily incorporated into devices However, even though a large number of materials, including polymers, metals, inorganic and composite materials, have been separately studied for triboelectric energy harvesting applications, the key features of these different classes of materials have never been presented together or summarized, to provide valuable insight for future materials development in this field. A comprehensive review of the materials‐driven progress of triboelectric energy harvesting devices is therefore presented, with emphasis on the study of materials‐related operating mechanisms and emergent materials design strategies for highly efficient triboelectric generators for mechanical energy harvesting applications.

Figure: Materials‐related operating mechanisms and emergent materials design strategies for highly efficient triboelectric generators