Innovations in self-powered sensors utilizing light, thermal, and mechanical renewable energy

In the era of the Internet of Things, which requires a vast number of distributed sensors for diverse applications, there exists a surging need for physical and chemical sensors that are self-powered. The adoption of self-powered sensors has the potential to significantly reduce the overall power consumption in electronics, enabling the development of more combined and intelligent sensing systems. Among the various self-powered sensors, those based on electricity generation are garnering considerable attention because of their compatibility with commercial electronic components. Recently, extensive research has been conducted on self-powered sensors based on electricity generation, leading to the development of several conceptual and practical sensors. This review article examines the recent advancements in self-powered sensors based on the types of wasted or renewable primary energy (RPE) sources, including light, thermal, and mechanical energy sources. Specifically, based on the working mechanisms of generating electricity from wasted or RPE sources, the appropriate types of sensors are discussed, with their respective characteristics evaluated. Additionally, several promising strategies are presented to overcome bottlenecks. Finally, potential applications are summarized and an outlook for commercialization is provided. These perspectives are expected to further advance the field of self-powered sensors and inspire further research.