Diversiform sensors and sensing systems driven by triboelectric and piezoelectric nanogenerators

•Recent advances on TENG and PENG-based sensors and sensing systems were summarized.•The working mechanism and applications of TENG and PENG were reviewed.•The trends and challenges ofTENG and PENG in sensing fields were discussed. Diversiform sensors and sensing devices with high reliability and self-powered features are critical in future wearable and flexible electronics of various fields. As a new energy harvesting technology, nanogenerator represented by triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) and piezoelectric nanogenerator (PENG) has attracted wide attention because it can effectively utilize renewable energy. Self-powered sensing technology based on TENG and PENG has been greatly developed because of its advantages over traditional power supply technology. The recent progress of TENG and PENG as self-powered smart sensors or power supply of sensing systems for a variety of applications has comprehensively summarized, such as environmental monitoring, biomedical application, and human–machine interface system. The latest achievements are also systematically reviewed from the aspects of advanced triboelectric/piezoelectric materials, implementation performance and prospective applications. The development of emerging nanomaterials makes TENG and PENG exhibit great application potential in the fields of nano-power sources, self-powered nano-devices, and micro-implantable chips. Moreover, some insights about future development trends and challenges of TENG and PENG in sensing fields were put forward. Triboelectric and piezoelectric nanogenerator has great prospective applications for the micro/nano energy and self-power of diversiform sensors and sensing systems as an emerging technology.