Exploring Triboelectric Polymers: Strategies for Performance Optimization and Long-Term Stability

Triboelectric polymers have emerged as a critical focus in polymer research due to their exceptional contact electrification capability, which enables efficient energy conversion and enhanced sensing functions in Triboelectric Nanogenerators (TENGs). These materials exhibit the inherent advantages of polymers, such as lightweight properties, flexible deformability, customizable molecular structures, and mobile molecular chains, which collectively contribute to their significant research value. In light of the rapid advancements in triboelectric polymer systems, a comprehensive review of the latest breakthroughs in this field is essential, offering both retrospective insights and forward-looking perspectives. This article summarizes the latest research progress of triboelectric polymers, covering the exploration of new triboelectric materials as well as the modification methods for traditional triboelectric materials. Through systematic analysis of high charge transfer density mechanisms in both novel and conventional materials, this article advances the mechanistic interpretation of contact electrification, providing novel insights for next-generation materials and advanced modification strategies. In the final section, the current challenges are pointed out in triboelectric polymers and offer a forward-looking perspective on the development of high-performance triboelectric polymers.