The triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) offers a simple and cost-effective method to harness waste energy and works on the principle of contact electrification and electrostatic induction. The performance and application of TENG depend to a great extent on the material used for fabrication. The most widely used materials include polymers and a few metals, well-arranged in the triboelectric series so as to promote electrification upon contact. New triboelectric materials are important for extending the applications and specificity of the TENG. A TENG based on a metal–organic framework (MOF) of the zeolitic imidazole family is reported here. The zeolitic imidazole framework-8 (ZIF-8) and Kapton are used as the active materials for MOF–TENG fabrication. Surface potential, structural, morphological and electrical measurements reveals detailed characteristics of ZIF-8, confirming the MOF as a potential candidate for TENG applications. The MOF–TENG generates a sustainable output of 164 V and 7 µA in vertical contact–separation mode. Finally, a self-powered UV counterfeit system and a tetracycline sensor are successfully developed and demonstrated with the MOF–TENG. The sensor is highly selective and reusable simply by washing. © 2019 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim