Cellulose gel-enabled self-powered sensing via moisture energy harvesting

Sensing technology has always faced challenges in terms of energy supply, environmental adaptability, and long-term stability. Moisture-based electricity generation technology utilizes environmental humidity to generate electricity. In turn, the electrical signals synchronously reflect changes in humidity. This characteristic of integrated perception and power supply brings new ideas for self-powered sensing. Cellulose gels have highly interconnected nanochannels, ultrahigh hydrophilicity, and strong versatility, making them the promising materials for humidity power generation. This working system outlines the research progress of cellulose gel-based MEGs in self-powered sensing. First, the advantages of cellulose gel as a wet-electrical material are discussed in terms of structure and function. Then, the performance optimization of cellulose hydrogels, cellulose aerogels, and cellulose ionogels and their applications in MEGs are elaborated. Meanwhile, the cutting-edge advances of cellulose gel-based MEGs in self-powered sensing is introduced. Finally, the potential challenges and future development of cellulose gel-based MEGs in self-powered sensing are prospected. • An overall view of cellulose gels as wet-electrical materials. • The performance potential of cellulose gels based on different dispersion medium in moist-electric generators. • The cutting-edge advances of cellulose gel-based moist-electric generators in self-powered sensing. • The challenges and future prospects of cellulose gel-based moist-electric generators.