Triboelectric And Piezoelectric Nanogenerators Using Binary and Ternary Oxide Nanostructures: Optimization of Energy Conversion Efficiency for Wearable Harvesting

Abstract

This study investigates the persistent challenge of optimizing energy-conversion efficiency in triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) and piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) incorporating binary and ternary oxide nanostructures for wearable energy-harvesting applications. The problem addressed arises from considerable variability in nanogenerator performance caused by differences in material composition, nanoscale morphology, interface quality, device configuration, and mechanical excitation, which makes it difficult to determine the most influential design factors. The purpose of the research was therefore to quantitatively evaluate how oxide material properties, nanostructure morphology and surface characteristics, device architecture and interface design, and mechanical operating conditions influence energy-conversion efficiency and subsequent wearable energy-harvesting performance. A quantitative, cross-sectional, case-study-based design was employed using a structured five-point Likert questionnaire administered to technically knowledgeable researchers, engineers, materials scientists, nanotechnology specialists, and wearable-energy professionals. Of 220 questionnaires distributed, 204 valid responses were retained, producing a 92.7% usable response rate. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Cronbach's alpha reliability analysis, Pearson correlation, comparative testing, and multiple regression at p < .05. Findings showed strong positive relationships between energy-conversion efficiency and oxide material properties (r = .64), nanostructure morphology (r = .59), device architecture (r = .67), and mechanical conditions (r = .53), all p < .001. Energy-conversion efficiency was strongly associated with wearable performance (r = .72, p < .001). The principal regression model explained 62.4% of the variance in energy-conversion efficiency, with device architecture emerging as the strongest predictor (β = .31, p < .001), followed by material properties (β = .26), morphology (β = .19), and mechanical conditions (β = .17). Ternary oxides achieved higher overall assessed performance than binary oxides, 4.22 versus 3.98, with a significant mean difference of 0.24 (p < .001). These findings imply that wearable nanogenerator optimization should prioritize coordinated material selection, nanoscale engineering, interface design, flexible architecture, and realistic mechanical matching rather than relying on material composition alone.