Revolutionizing energy storage: Self-charging supercapacitors toward self-powered micro and nano systems

Abstract

Piezo-supercapacitors and tribo-supercapacitors have emerged as innovative hybrid systems that combine mechanical energy harvesting with energy storage, offering a promising route toward sustainable and autonomous power solutions. By integrating piezoelectric and triboelectric nanogenerators with supercapacitors, these systems efficiently convert ambient mechanical energy such as vibrations, motions, and stresses directly into stored electrical energy. Their ability to simultaneously harvest and store energy positions them as key enablers for next-generation low-power electronics, wearable technologies, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in piezoelectric and triboelectric self-charging systems integrated with supercapacitors. Particular emphasis is placed on the mechanisms of energy conversion and storage, material innovations, and device architectures. Highlights include the development of piezoelectric electrolyte-assisted systems, flexible carbon fabric-based designs, ultrasonic-enhanced charging configurations, and advanced triboelectric nanogenerator-supercapacitor hybrids. Material strategies such as electrospun metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), carbon textiles, and fiber-shaped coaxial nanogenerators are discussed for their role in enhancing energy conversion efficiency, mechanical robustness, and device flexibility. Finally, key challenges such as improving energy density, enhancing mechanical durability, and achieving seamless system integration are critically analyzed, along with future perspectives on material design and device engineering aimed at realizing scalable, efficient, and multifunctional energy systems.