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Abstract Converting mechanical energy from either the ambient environment or the human body motions to the useful electrical energy will revolutionize power solutions for flexible electronics. Here, a hybrid energy harvesting strategy is reported, which combines porous polymeric piezoelectric film with an electrostatic layer as an integration for converting the mechanical energy into electrical energy. The piezoelectric materials through engineered microstructures are developed to enhance energy generation due to the higher compressibility and larger surface contact area. The electrostatic effect from the charged layer further contributes to the generation of electrical charges. By directly coating the stretchable carbon nanotubes onto the elastomers, more intimate integration of the hybrid energy harvesters enables the designs for complex electronics. Such flexible hybrid piezoelectric‐electrostatic device exhibits superior energy harvesting performance with a voltage output of 1.95 V, which improves 30% and 100% compared to the electrostatic and piezoelectric alone device, respectively. Experiments are also performed to demonstrate the implementation of the hybrid device's energy conversion to power small electronics and recognition of different body motions. Such hybrid strategy provides a new solution toward future energy revolution for flexible electronics.
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This content will become publicly available on February 4, 2026
Advancements in flexible biomechanical energy harvesting for smart health applications
Advancing flexible electronics enables timely smart health management and diagnostic interventions. However, current health electronics typically rely on replaceable batteries or external power sources, requiring direct contact with the human skin or organs. This setup often results in rigid and bulky devices, reducing user comfort during long-term use. Flexible biomechanical energy harvesting technology, based on triboelectric or piezoelectric strategies, offers a promising approach for continuous and comfortable smart health applications, providing a sustainable power supply and self-powered sensing. This review systematically examines biomechanical energy sources around the human body, explores various energy harvesting mechanisms and their applications in smart health, and concludes with insights and future perspectives in this field.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2106459
- PAR ID:
- 10652743
- Publisher / Repository:
- Royal Society of Chemistry
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Chemical Communications
- Volume:
- 61
- Issue:
- 12
- ISSN:
- 1359-7345
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 2424 to 2449
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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