This review offers a critical overview of recent developments in lead-free piezoelectric materials and flexible device architectures for self-powered wearable and Internet of Things systems. It examines the scientific and technological rationale for replacing conventional battery-dependent power sources with ambient mechanical energy harvesters, and it evaluates the relative merits of inorganic ceramics, organic polymers, and composite systems in achieving efficient electromechanical conversion under practical operating conditions. The discussion further considers compositional tuning, phase boundary engineering, microstructural optimization, and device-level integration as key strategies for improving piezoelectric output, mechanical compliance, durability, and manufacturability. By connecting fundamental materials design with application-driven device requirements, the review identifies the principal challenges and emerging directions necessary for the realization of reliable, scalable, and sustainable electronic platforms.

Citations

• Recent progress on piezoelectric and ferroelectric films for human-machine interactive smart devices
  Nagamalleswara Rao Alluri, Kwi-Il Park
  Materials Today Physics.2026; 68: 102243.     CrossRef
• Recent advances in piezoelectric energy harvesting: materials, configurations, optimization techniques, and emerging applications
  Mir Waqas Alam, Sohail Ahmad Parah, Farooq Ahmad Dar, Abdulrahman Aljasim, Chawki Awada, Rameez Ahmad Parra
  Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef