Self-powered gas sensors are emerging as a promising advancement in sustainable sensing technology, offering solutions to major challenges such as high energy demand, limited device autonomy, and constraints in flexible deployment. These next-generation sensors capture ambient energy such as mechanical motion, temperature differences, or light and convert it into the power needed for gas detection, thereby eliminating dependence on external energy sources. The effectiveness of a gas sensor largely depends on the materials used, as their unique physical and chemical properties directly influence sensing performance. In recent years, significant attention has been directed toward the integration of various energy harvesting technologies including piezoelectric, triboelectric, thermoelectric, and photovoltaic systems, with advanced gas-sensitive materials, which aims to substantially enhance the sensitivity, selectivity, and operational stability of gas sensing platforms, paving the way for the development of next-generation, self-powered sensing devices. This chapter offers an overview of essential materials, such as nanomaterials, composites, and heterostructures, that are vital for enhancing the performance of self-powered gas sensors. Additionally, this chapter delves into a comprehensive analysis of the emerging trends and innovations that are bridging the gap between energy harvesting and gas sensing technologies, shaping the future of autonomous and environmentally adaptive sensor systems.
