Ferroelectric Nanomaterials for Energy Harvesting and Self-Powered Sensing Applications

The rapid development of the Internet of Things has introduced new challenges for miniaturized, highly integrated energy harvesters and sensors, promoting the exploration of various novel nanomaterials. Ferroelectric nanomaterials, characterized by large remanent polarization, exceptional dielectric properties, outstanding chemical stability, and diverse electricity generation capabilities, are emerging as promising candidates in a variety of fields. Possessing various mechanisms for electricity generation, including piezoelectric, pyroelectric, photovoltaic, and triboelectric effects, ferroelectric nanomaterials demonstrate their capability for harvesting and sensing multiple energies simultaneously, including light, thermal, and mechanical energies. This capability contributes to the miniaturization and high integration of electronic devices. This article reviews recent achievements in ferroelectric nanomaterials and their applications in energy harvesting and self-powered sensing. Different categories of ferroelectric nanomaterials, their ferroelectric properties, and fabrication methods are introduced. The working mechanisms and performance of ferroelectric energy harvesters and self-powered sensors are described. Additionally, future prospects are discussed.