Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) represent a promising technology for next generation human–computer interaction. The effective enhancement of induced charges are critical factors that determine the recognition accuracy of TENG-based tactile sensors. Here, we propose a magnetic field-assisted TENG device utilizing waveform feature enrichment strategies to significantly enhance the tactile recognition accuracy in natural environments. An elastic micro-nano structure was fabricated on a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film via a facile templating method. Leveraging the inherent hydrophobicity and microscale surface roughness of PDMS, our device demonstrates stable and distinct waveform characteristics under natural operating conditions. Importantly, the introduction of a magnetic field generates a Lorentz force, which effectively modulates induced charges within the electrode, yet minimally affects triboelectric charges at the PDMS interface. This selective modulation induces an asymmetric charge distribution inside the electrode, substantially increasing the induced charge density, consequently, subtle waveform features are markedly enhanced. These enriched signal features play a crucial role in elevating material recognition accuracy. As a result, the sensor achieves a remarkable recognition accuracy of 99% when distinguishing among ten different materials under magnetic field assistance. This work provides valuable guidelines for advancing the performance and accuracy of TENG-based tactile sensing systems.

Ocean is full of low-frequency, irregular, and widely distributed wave energy, which is suitable as the energy source for maritime Internet of Things (IoTs). Utilizing triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) to harvest ocean wave energy and power sensors is proven to be an effective scheme. However, in random ocean waves, the irregular electrical energy output by general TENGs restricts the applications. At present, achieving regularized water wave energy harvesting relies on rather complex mechanical structure designs, which is not conducive to industrialization. In this work, we proposed a novel mechanical controlled TENG (MC-TENG) with a simple controlled switch to realize the regularization function. The structural parameters of the MC-TENG are optimized, and the optimal output voltage, output current, and transferred charge respectively reach 1684.2 V, 85.4 μA, and 389.9 nC, generating a peak power density of 38.46 W·m⁻³·Hz⁻¹. Under real water wave environment, the output of the MC-TENG is regularized and keeps stable regardless of any wave conditions. Moreover, the potential applications of the MC-TENG are demonstrated in powering environmental temperature, humidity, and wind speed sensors. This work renders a simple approach to achieve effective regularized ocean wave energy harvesting, promoting the TENG industrialization toward practical application of maritime IoTs.