# Empowering Flexible Electronics with Piezoelectric Nanogenerators: Breakthroughs from Energy Harvesting to Intelligent Sensing

## TL;DR

This paper reviews piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) for flexible electronics, showing how they convert mechanical energy into electricity for self-powered devices and sensors.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive review of recent advancements in PENGs, focusing on their design and integration into self-powered systems.

## Key findings

- PENGs convert mechanical stimuli into electricity without external power sources.
- Integration with supercapacitors and batteries enhances energy harvesting and sustainability.
- PENGs are applied in health monitoring, bionic electronic skin, and tactile sensing.

## Abstract

Flexible sensing devices and energy storage systems with self‐powered capabilities are propelling the rapid advancement of flexible electronics and wearable technologies. Piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) present a compelling alternative to the constraints of conventional battery‐powered systems, which suffer from limited capacity and short lifespans. By exploiting the piezoelectric effect, PENGs convert mechanical energy into electrical energy without the need for an external power source, producing electricity in response to mechanical stimuli, including vibration, pressure, and force. When integrated into flexible electronics and sensors, PENGs facilitate applications such as health monitoring, bionic electronic skin, and tactile sensing. Furthermore, PENGs can be combined with energy storage systems such as self‐recharging supercapacitors and batteries, enhancing energy harvesting and conversion, while promoting sustainable energy utilization and ensuring a reliable power supply. This paper reviews recent advancements in PENGs, highlighting their theoretical foundation, structural design, and potential applications in sensors and energy storage systems, and discusses potential future directions for their continued advancement.

This review systematically summarizes recent advances in self‐powered flexible sensing and energy storage systems based on piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs). It highlights their fundamental mechanisms, structural designs, and applications in health monitoring, e‐skin, and tactile sensing. The integration of PENGs with supercapacitors or batteries is also discussed for enabling sustainable and autonomous wearable electronics.