Advances in wearable energy storage and harvesting systems

next-generation healthcare technologies, facilitating continuous and real-time health monitoring. Traditional wearable devices have been constricted by bulky and rigid batteries, limiting their practicality and comfort. However, recent advancements in materials science have enabled the creation of flexible, stretchable, and lightweight energy storage and harvesting solutions. The integration of energy storage and harvesting technologies is essential for developing self-sustaining systems that minimize reliance on external power sources and enhance device longevity. These integrated systems ensure the continuous operation of sensors and processors vital for real-time health monitoring.

The team led by Jiayu Wan from Shanghai Jiao Tong University examines recent significant progress in wearable energy storage and harvesting, focusing on the latest advancements in wearable devices, solar cells, biofuel cells, triboelectric nanogenerators, magnetoelastic gene rators, supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries, and zinc-ion batteries. It also discusses key parameters crucial for their wearable applications, such as energy density, power density, and durability. Finally, the review addresses future challenges and prospects in this rapidly evolving field, underscoring the potential for developing innovative, self-powered wearable systems for healthcare applications..

This review has undertaken a detailed examination of the latest advancements in wearable energy storage and harvesting technologies, highlighting both state-of-the-art developments and practical implementations. They explored a spectrum of devices, including solar cells, biofuel cells, triboelectric nanogenerators, magnetoelastic generators, supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries, and zinc-ion batteries, focusing on their integration into flexible and multifunctional systems. The analysis underscored the challenges and opportunities inherent in applying these technologies to healthcare, particularly the need to balance energy density, power density, lifespan, and durability while maintaining multifunctionality. Despite significant progress, several challenges remain, such as optimizing component integration and enhancing device performance in diverse healthcare settings.