Manufacturing routes toward flexible and smart energy harvesters and sensors based on functional nanomaterials

Advances in nanoscience and nanotechnology-related have revolutionized technologies related to sensors and portable electronic appliances, thus opening up a whole new dimension to modern-day life. However, with the explosive growth witnessed in sensor and wearable technologies, new challenges have surfaced, including how to power these without relying solely on traditional power sources such as batteries. Although battery technology itself has taken great strides in terms of environment-friendly materials and portability, their energy density still remains insufficient to power these electronic gadgets without making them ungainly and bulky. In this chapter, we discuss energy harvesting from mechanical and thermal sources in the environment, particularly in the context of small-power applications. Functional nanomaterials possessing good piezoelectric/triboelectric and thermoelectric, respectively …