Magnetically driven triboelectric nanogenerator for a wireless, versatile energy transfer system

Abstract

The development of stable and multifunctional monitoring or actuating systems for implantable biomedical devices necessitates a high-capacity power supply. By using the oscillation of a magnetic field, energy can be transmitted through various media such as skin, fat, liquids, metals, and fabrics. We demonstrate a magnetically actuated implantable triboelectric generator that can effectively transfer energy independently of the surrounding media. The oscillation of the magnetic field enables contact of elastomeric magnets with the top and bottom electrodes of the generator, generating a path for electrical energy through contact electrification. The performance of the magnetically actuated triboelectric generator exhibits high tolerability for lateral and angular misalignment, transferring energy through different media including tissue, liquid, air, wood, metal, and fabrics. This addresses a critical issue present in ultrasound approaches. These findings suggest that a magnetically actuated triboelectric generator can be an alternative technology capable of overcoming the medium-related challenges of ultrasound, providing power to medical implants. © 2025 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works. Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial License 4.0 (CC BY-NC).