Electrostatic discharge as a breakthrough strategy for triboelectric nanogenerators

As the Internet of Things (IoT) has expanded, the global energy problem has increased the demand for high-performance self-powered sensors; however, traditional triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are limited by low current outputs and pulsed AC signals. This review highlights electrostatic discharge (ESD) as a breakthrough mechanism for overcoming these barriers. ESD enables current amplification to the milliampere-to-ampere range through the electron avalanche effect and facilitates direct current (DC) generation by utilizing the air gap as a temporary electrical switch. We systematically categorized the ESD-based TENGs into contact-separation, sliding, and complicated designs. Furthermore, specialized self-powered applications of ESD were explored, including chemical removal, nitrogen fixation for fertilizers, and gas sensing. By addressing these critical challenges, this review provides a roadmap for the commercialization of the next-generation TENG systems. This review highlights electrostatic discharge as a mechanism for overcoming low current output and pulsed AC signal limitations in triboelectric nanogenerators.