Recent Advances in Triboelectric Materials for Active Health Applications

Triboelectric materials can convert irregular mechanical stimuli from human motion or environmental sources into high surface charge densities and instantaneous electrical outputs. Their intrinsic properties, such as flexibility, stretchability, chemical tunability, and compatibility with diverse substrates, play a critical role in determining the efficiency and reliability of triboelectric devices. In the context of active health, triboelectric materials not only serve as the core functional layers for self-powered sensing but also enable real-time physiological monitoring, motion tracking, and human–machine interaction by directly transducing biomechanical signals into electrical information. Soft triboelectric sensors exhibit high sensitivity, wide operational ranges, excellent biocompatibility, and wearability, making them highly promising for active health monitoring applications. Despite these advantages, challenges remain in enhancing surface charge density, achieving effective signal multiplexing, and ensuring long-term stability. This review provides a comprehensive overview of triboelectric mechanisms, working modes, influencing factors, performance enhancement strategies, and wearable health applications. Finally, it systematically summarizes the key improvement approaches and future development directions of triboelectric materials for active health, offering valuable guidance for advancing wearable self-powered biosensors.