Towards Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS)-Free Energy Harvesting: Recent Advances in Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Sports Applications

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) can convert the mechanical energy of physical activities into electricity. This is particularly useful in sports applications, where physical activity can power devices such as wearables that can provide real-time feedback on athletes’ performance or health. To w...

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Main Authors: Mónica P. S. Ferreira, Inês Ferreira, Vânia Pais, Liliana Leite, João Bessa, Fernando Cunha, Raúl Fangueiro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Micromachines
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/3/313
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author Mónica P. S. Ferreira
Inês Ferreira
Vânia Pais
Liliana Leite
João Bessa
Fernando Cunha
Raúl Fangueiro
author_facet Mónica P. S. Ferreira
Inês Ferreira
Vânia Pais
Liliana Leite
João Bessa
Fernando Cunha
Raúl Fangueiro
author_sort Mónica P. S. Ferreira
collection DOAJ
description Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) can convert the mechanical energy of physical activities into electricity. This is particularly useful in sports applications, where physical activity can power devices such as wearables that can provide real-time feedback on athletes’ performance or health. To work, a TENG usually needs tribopositive and tribonegative materials. Currently, the vast majority of TENGs use materials containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as tribonegative materials. However, these substances pose risks to humans and the environment, which has led the European Union to consider restrictions on these compounds. For this reason, PFAS-free alternatives, such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and MXenes, need to be better explored to replace PFAS materials while aiming to achieve equal efficiency. This review will explore some of the recent advances that have been developed in the field of PFAS-free TENGs, with an emphasis on sports applications.
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publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Micromachines
spelling doaj-art-54019fe5a5394ae1bb8d00b02b7f77a52025-08-20T01:48:42ZengMDPI AGMicromachines2072-666X2025-03-0116331310.3390/mi16030313Towards Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS)-Free Energy Harvesting: Recent Advances in Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Sports ApplicationsMónica P. S. Ferreira0Inês Ferreira1Vânia Pais2Liliana Leite3João Bessa4Fernando Cunha5Raúl Fangueiro6Fibrenamics—Institute for Innovation in Fiber-Based Materials and Composites, University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, PortugalFibrenamics—Institute for Innovation in Fiber-Based Materials and Composites, University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, PortugalFibrenamics—Institute for Innovation in Fiber-Based Materials and Composites, University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, PortugalFibrenamics—Institute for Innovation in Fiber-Based Materials and Composites, University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, PortugalFibrenamics—Institute for Innovation in Fiber-Based Materials and Composites, University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, PortugalFibrenamics—Institute for Innovation in Fiber-Based Materials and Composites, University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, PortugalFibrenamics—Institute for Innovation in Fiber-Based Materials and Composites, University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, PortugalTriboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) can convert the mechanical energy of physical activities into electricity. This is particularly useful in sports applications, where physical activity can power devices such as wearables that can provide real-time feedback on athletes’ performance or health. To work, a TENG usually needs tribopositive and tribonegative materials. Currently, the vast majority of TENGs use materials containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as tribonegative materials. However, these substances pose risks to humans and the environment, which has led the European Union to consider restrictions on these compounds. For this reason, PFAS-free alternatives, such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and MXenes, need to be better explored to replace PFAS materials while aiming to achieve equal efficiency. This review will explore some of the recent advances that have been developed in the field of PFAS-free TENGs, with an emphasis on sports applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/3/313triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG)sports applicationsperfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)PFAS-free
spellingShingle Mónica P. S. Ferreira
Inês Ferreira
Vânia Pais
Liliana Leite
João Bessa
Fernando Cunha
Raúl Fangueiro
Towards Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS)-Free Energy Harvesting: Recent Advances in Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Sports Applications
Micromachines
triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG)
sports applications
perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
PFAS-free
title Towards Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS)-Free Energy Harvesting: Recent Advances in Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Sports Applications
title_full Towards Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS)-Free Energy Harvesting: Recent Advances in Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Sports Applications
title_fullStr Towards Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS)-Free Energy Harvesting: Recent Advances in Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Sports Applications
title_full_unstemmed Towards Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS)-Free Energy Harvesting: Recent Advances in Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Sports Applications
title_short Towards Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS)-Free Energy Harvesting: Recent Advances in Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Sports Applications
title_sort towards perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substance pfas free energy harvesting recent advances in triboelectric nanogenerators for sports applications
topic triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG)
sports applications
perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
PFAS-free
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/3/313
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