This brief explores how bio-inspired and biomimetic design principles are transforming next-generation nanoenergy technologies, highlighting recent advances in hybrid nanomaterial systems for solar-driven CO2 reduction, triboelectric and multifunctional energy harvesters, and gel-based and graphene-enhanced materials engineered for high-performance energy applications. It examines how nature-inspired approaches enable integrated self-powered systems from smart wearables to off-grid rural solutions, while also addressing the sustainability, life-cycle, and environmental implications of deploying these emerging energy materials. It is a useful resource for graduates, researchers and professionals working in the next generation energy materials.

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Dr Mohammd Yaseen Mir is a subject expert member in the CSTT, Ministry of Education, GoI New Delhi. Dr. Mir is also a subject course expert for environmental science-approved CEC-MOOCs by the MHRD GoI New Delhi. Dr. Mir was working as a senior researcher in a research project funded by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF& CC), Government of India, along with G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment & Sustainable Development under the National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) and has recently joined the Department of Education J&K as a teaching faculty member. He did his M.Phil and Ph.D. programs at the University of Kashmir. He was awarded a Doctorate Merit Scholarship by the University of Kashmir to pursue his Ph.D. programme. He was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the University of Kashmir for participation in the National Seminar on "Environment pollution: Join The Race To Make The World a Better Place" on the Eve of the Observance of World Environment Day-2016. He earned a Ph.D in botany with a specialisation in plant biotechnology on the topic "Role of elicitors for in vitro induction of secondary metabolites in suspension cultures of Artemisia amygdalina D." from the University of Kashmir, India. He is currently an editor and reviewer of many reputed journals. He has published many research articles, review papers, and book chapters in refereed international and national journals, while he has also authored and edited books.

Dr. Javid A. Parray holds a master's degree in environmental science and completed his MPhil and PhD programs at the University of Kashmir after passing the prestigious state-level JKSLET examination. He has also conducted postdoctoral research at the same university. Dr. Parray was awarded a Fast Track Young Scientist Project by the SERB-DST, Government of India, in New Delhi. He teaches at the Department of Environmental Science at GDC Eidgah, Cluster University Srinagar. Throughout his career, Dr. Parray has attended numerous courses and conferences on environmental issues and biotechnology, nationally and internationally, including conferences in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, China, and Uzbekistan. His primary research interests encompass ecological and agricultural microbiology, climate change, microbial biotechnology, and environmental microbiomes. He has published over 100 high-impact research papers and book chapters in reputable journals and publishing hubs. In addition, Dr. Parray has authored 29 books with international publishers such as Elsevier, Springer, Callisto Reference USA, and Wiley-Blackwell. He serves on the editorial board and is a journal reviewer. He has also been invited to speak at various scientific meetings and conferences in India and abroad. Furthermore, he has guest-edited special issues on Environmental Biofilms, Sustainable Food Systems, and the Environment for BioMed Research International, Hindawi, and Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, among others. Dr. Parray is a member of several international and national scientific organizations, including the Asian PGPR Society, IJMS Mumbai, and the Academy of Eco Science, IAES Haridwar. He was honored with the "Emerging Scientist Year Gold Medal" for 2018 by the Indian Academy of Environmental Science. Additionally, Dr. Parray is the course coordinator for three CeC-MOOCs National Swayam courses in Environmental Science. Recently, he received the PIFI Visiting Fellowship for 2024 from the Chinese Academy of Sciences.