The
utilization of sensors has become indispensable in the advent
of an intelligent era characterized by artificial intelligence, 5G
communication, big data, and other cutting-edge technologies. Traditional
sensors require external power sources or batteries, resulting in
a complex sensing system that does not promote the development of
sustainable and environmentally friendly applications for health monitoring.
In recent years, the electrical output and stability of piezoelectric,
triboelectric, thermoelectric, and hybrid nanogenerators have been
significantly improved, enabling their widespread role in the development
of self-powered sensors. The sensors are capable of performing sensing
tasks by converting their own energy, thereby obviating the need for
an external power supply. In this paper, we initially explore the
operating mechanisms, device materials, and structures of diverse
nanogenerators and evaluate their output efficacy. Subsequently, we
showcase the latest advancements in self-powered sensor systems, spanning
various fields such as biomedical and healthcare, wearable devices,
sound monitoring, smart vehicles, environmental monitoring, and smart
cities. The paper also explores the future potential of self-powered
sensor systems, in addition to discussing their practical applications.