Powering the Future: Hydrogel-based Soft Ionic Conductors Energize Flexible and Wearable Triboelectric Nanogenerators

In contemporary times, the escalating prominence of portable and wearable electronics of the next generation has instigated a surge in the need for power solutions [1]. However, conventional power supplies, characterized by their rigid and intricate configurations, substantial size, and ecologically detrimental characteristics, no longer meet the essential prerequisites of wearable electronics. Consequently, researchers have devoted significant efforts towards the advancement of pliable and environmentally sustainable power sources specifically tailored for wearable applications. In recent years, one particular avenue of exploration that has garnered attention is flexible triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs).