Self‐Powered Flexible Electronics: Biomass Hydrogels for Integrated Sensing and Energy Harvesting

Biomass-derived hydrogels bridge the worlds of renewable natural sources and advanced electronics, offering a unique combination of biodegradability, biocompatibility, and highly tunable physicochemical characteristics. These features are pivotal for the development of next-generation self-powered flexible electronics. This review summarizes recent advances in structural and molecular design of biomass hydrogels, with emphasis on engineering strategies and composites that integrate sensing and energy conversion functions. We systematically examine how hierarchical architectural design facilitates precise modulation of mechanical, electrical, and biochemical properties, laying the material foundation for multifunctional applications. Furthermore, this review also highlights frontier applications in flexible sensing and energy systems, spanning physiological monitoring, triboelectric nanogenerators, supercapacitors, and biofuel cells for storage and conversion, and culminating in a dedicated discussion of their converging roles within self-powered platforms. By discussing the coupling of sensing and energy modules in unified hydrogel frameworks, we highlight how material innovation and structural engineering enable autonomous operation and reliable human-machine interfaces. Finally, we outline future directions toward intelligent and sustainable electronics, emphasizing the role of biomass hydrogels in developing eco-friendly and self-sufficient flexible systems.

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Publication Details

Journal
Small
Published
2026-01-05
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202511724
Primary Topic
Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Self‐Powered Flexible Electronics: Biomass Hydrogels for Integrated Sensing and Energy Harvesting

Changyou Shao, Boya Song, Sanwei Hao, Jialong Wen et al.
Small
Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
article

Self‐Powered Flexible Electronics: Biomass Hydrogels for Integrated Sensing and Energy Harvesting

Changyou Shao, Boya Song, Sanwei Hao, Jialong Wen, Jun Yang, Chao Wang, Hailin Cong
article en

Abstract

Biomass-derived hydrogels bridge the worlds of renewable natural sources and advanced electronics, offering a unique combination of biodegradability, biocompatibility, and highly tunable physicochemical characteristics. These features are pivotal for the development of next-generation self-powered flexible electronics. This review summarizes recent advances in structural and molecular design of biomass hydrogels, with emphasis on engineering strategies and composites that integrate sensing and energy conversion functions. We systematically examine how hierarchical architectural design facilitates precise modulation of mechanical, electrical, and biochemical properties, laying the material foundation for multifunctional applications. Furthermore, this review also highlights frontier applications in flexible sensing and energy systems, spanning physiological monitoring, triboelectric nanogenerators, supercapacitors, and biofuel cells for storage and conversion, and culminating in a dedicated discussion of their converging roles within self-powered platforms. By discussing the coupling of sensing and energy modules in unified hydrogel frameworks, we highlight how material innovation and structural engineering enable autonomous operation and reliable human-machine interfaces. Finally, we outline future directions toward intelligent and sustainable electronics, emphasizing the role of biomass hydrogels in developing eco-friendly and self-sufficient flexible systems.

SmallVol. 22(9)
Shandong University of Technology (CN), Beijing Forestry University (CN), Zaozhuang University (CN), Dalian Polytechnic University (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 98%
Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
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Self‐Powered Flexible Electronics: Biomass Hydrogels for Integrated Sensing and Energy Harvesting — Changyou Shao, Boya Song, et al. · Small (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS