On July 29, 2023, Professor Xu Ming from the nanocarbon-HUST published a review titled "Strategies for enhancing low frequency performance of triboelectric, electrochemical, piezoelectric, and dielectric elastomer energy harvesting: recent progress and challenges" in the well-known journal Science Bulletin, elaborating on the progress and challenges of frictional, electrochemical, piezoelectric, and dielectric elastomer energy recovery methods in low-frequency mechanical energy recovery.

This review first analyzes the key factors that affect the low-frequency output performance of four types of energy recovery methods, including working mechanisms, equipment composition, and environmental factors. The unique working mechanisms of frictional electricity, electrochemistry, piezoelectricity, and dielectric elastomer energy recovery make them potential for collecting low-frequency mechanical energy. The different working mechanisms and equipment compositions also determine their different working modes in low-frequency environments. Subsequently, strategies and methods for improving the low-frequency output performance of four types of energy recovery methods were summarized. By selecting appropriate materials, adjusting the structure of materials, and designing special devices to adapt to the low amplitude, multidirectionality, and intermittency of low-frequency mechanical motion, the output voltage, output current, output power, and energy conversion efficiency of energy recovery devices at low frequencies can be improved. Finally, this review analyzes the challenges faced by frictional, electrochemical, piezoelectric, and dielectric elastomer energy recovery devices in the development of low-frequency mechanical energy recovery, including the mismatch between mechanical action frequency and device natural frequency, mechanical and electrical losses during the energy recovery process. Meanwhile, based on the current research status in the field, this review further provides future research directions for low-frequency mechanical energy recovery, including the development and design of new materials and the development of device miniaturization and integration. This study was supported by multiple funds, including the National Key R&D Program (2022YFB3807700), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51972127), the Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission (JCYJ20190809102607400 and JCYJ20210324135207020), and the Hubei Provincial Natural Science Foundation (2022CFA031).

Article link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scib.2023.06.025