The　triboelectric　nanogenerator　(TENG)　coupling　contact　electrification　and　electric　induction　is　a　landmark　development　in　the　field　of　energy　and　self-powered　systems.　Usually,　TENGs　drive　light-emitting　diode　(LED)　arrays　directly　to　demonstrate　their　powerful　output　capabilities.　However,　detailed　investigations　of　the　mechanisms　underlying　LEDs　operating　at　voltages　much　higher　than　those　normally　used　have　not　been　conducted.　Here,　the　optical　and　the　electrical　performances　of　LEDs　driven　by　TENGs　are　studied.　Inspired　by　the　operation　mode　of　a　TENG-driven　LED,　we　propose　a　structure　composed　of　a　capacitor-LED-capacitor　series,　namely,　LED-in-capacitors,　driven　by　alternating　current　voltage.　We　demonstrate　that　the　LED-in-capacitors　can　be　directly　lit　by　using　the　main　power　supply　without　a　transformer　and　that　the　number　of　LEDs　connected　in　series　may　be　easily　changed.　In　addition,　due　to　electrostatic　induction,　the　LED-in-capacitors　can　be　lit　wirelessly　without　the　need　for　carrier　injection.　As　a　novel　type　of　electronic　device,　TENG-related　technology　is　expected　to　provide　impetus　for　the　development　of　traditional　LED　lighting　and　display　technology.　©　2020　Elsevier　Ltd