AI-Driven TENGs for Self-Powered Smart Sensors and Intelligent Devices

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are emerging as transformative technologies for sustainable energy harvesting and precision sensing, offering eco-friendly power generation from mechanical motion. They harness mechanical energy while enabling self-sustaining sensing for self-powered devices. However, challenges such as material optimization, fabrication techniques, design strategies, and output stability must be addressed to fully realize their practical potential. Artificial intelligence (AI), with its capabilities in advanced data analysis, pattern recognition, and adaptive responses, is revolutionizing fields like healthcare, industrial automation, and smart infrastructure. When integrated with TENGs, AI can overcome current limitations by enhancing output, stability, and adaptability. This review explores the synergistic potential of AI-driven TENG systems, from optimizing materials and fabrication to embedding machine learning and deep learning algorithms for intelligent real-time sensing. These advancements enable improved energy harvesting, predictive maintenance, and dynamic performance optimization, making TENGs more practical across industries. The review also identifies key challenges and future research directions, including the development of low-power AI algorithms, sustainable materials, hybrid energy systems, and robust security protocols for AI-enhanced TENG solutions.