Nanotechnology could give us battery-free electronic toys

A triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) utilizes charges arising from friction similar to the static we experience on dry winter days; and by nanostructuring the materials in a TENG device, the produced energy could be amplified by increasing the contact area of the surfaces. In a step toward the commercialization of triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) devices, researchers have presented a novel approach that uses TENG technology to develop battery-free, self-powered electronic toys.