A constructive perspective on ionic self-powered pressure sensing

Abstract

The growing demand from flexible and wearable electronic systems for devices that simultaneously offer autonomous energy supply and high-sensitivity pressure sensing has accelerated the development of self-powered pressure sensors. Although substantial research has been conducted on either energy harvesting or pressure sensing mechanisms, most efforts have primarily focused on performance enhancement, lacking a systematic examination of the coupling between energy conversion and pressure response processes. This absence of integration logic hinders the rational design of fully functional devices. This review centers on the critical intersection of ionic materials, self-powered energy conversion, and pressure sensing. It systematically summarizes ion-involved energy harvesting mechanisms such as triboelectric, piezoionic, along with pressure sensing methods that can be coupled with them. Structural design approaches, including porous architectures, gradient structures and so on , are further examined for their roles in enhancing ion transport regulation. Finally, the review outlines current applications in intelligent tactile interfaces, human communication aids, and other related areas. By adopting a unified perspective that connects mechanism, structure, and function, this work proposes a scalable design strategy for self-powered pressure sensors, offering a conceptual framework for future device development and system-level integration.