From energy to intelligence: MXenes transforming triboelectric nanogenerators

Abstract

As a 2D functional material, MXenes have attracted increasing interest. MXenes, with their remarkable features, have redefined the performance of energy harvesting by boosting stability, efficiency, and charge transfer. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have become an appealing technology for energy harvesting and sensing applications due to the increasing demand for self-powered and sustainable energy solutions. However, owing to the inadequate output performance of TENGs, they are still a long way from being used commercially. The use of MXenes in TENG is associated with the terminal groups (such as O, –OH, and –F), intrinsic metallic nature, and synthetic techniques of MXenes. In this review, the recent advancements in MXene synthesis, TENG operating mechanisms, and fabrication strategies are provided. The origin, advancement, and underlying mechanism of TENG are elucidated for new researchers in this field. Furthermore, the diverse roles of MXenes in TENGs and the integration of MXene TENGs in numerous applications, including biomedical wearables, environmental sensing, sports monitoring, and soft robots, are explored thoroughly. Finally, we delve into the obstacles and future outlook of MXene-TENG research, emphasizing avenues for further advancement in the field of multifunctional sensing and energy harvesting.