Triboelectric nanogenerators for smart industrial sensing applications

The rapid advancement of the smart manufacturing industry has increased the demand for self-powered, sustainable, and intelligent sensing systems. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), which convert mechanical energy into electrical energy using triboelectrification and electrostatic induction, can act as a transformative solution for smart industrial sensing applications. This review highlights recent progress in TENG-based systems applied across diverse industrial sectors, including machine fault detection, vibration monitoring, flow control, air filtration, environmental monitoring, and mining safety. Representative examples include vibration-based multimode TENG networks for machine health diagnosis, turbine and rotary wind-driven TENGs for energy harvesting and temperature sensing, and flow-regulated TENGs for real-time fluid control in smart factories. Recent innovations have also demonstrated self-powered air filtration systems, IoT-enabled vibration sensors, and adaptive TENG platforms for extreme industrial environments. Furthermore, current challenges such as low power density, durability under harsh environments, and standardisation barriers are critically addressed. The review concludes with emerging prospects, including hybridised energy systems and the use of multifunctional materials, which can advance the TENG technology toward scalable and sustainable industrial applications. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive perspective on the potential of TENGs for smart and self-powered industrial sensing applications.