A Weavable and Scalable Cotton‐Yarn‐Based Battery Activated by Human Sweat for Textile Electronics

Abstract

Sweat-activated batteries (SABs) are lightweight, biocompatible energy generators that produce sufficient power for skin-interface electronic devices. However, the fabrication of 1D SABs that are compatible with conventional textile techniques for self-powered wearable electronics remains challenging. In this study, a cotton-yarn-based SAB (CYSAB) with a segmental structure is developed, in which carbon-black-modified, pristine yarn and Zn foil-wrapped segments are prepared to serve as the cathode, salt bridge, and anode, respectively. Upon electrolyte absorption, the CYSAB can be rapidly activated. Its performance is closely related to the ion concentration, infiltrated electrolyte volume, and evaporation rate. The CYSAB can tolerate repeated bending and washing without any significant influence on its power output. Moreover, the CYSABs can be woven into fabrics and connected in series and parallel configurations to produce an energy supplying headband, which can be activated by the sweat secreted from a volunteer during a cycling exercise to power light-emitting diode headlights. The developed CYSAB can also be integrated with yarn-based strain sensors to achieve a smart textile for the self-powered sensing of human motion and breathing. This weavable, washable, and scalable CYSAB is expected to contribute to the manufacturing of self-powered smart textiles for future applications in wearable healthcare monitoring.

Advances in the Robustness of Wearable Electronic Textiles: Strategies, Stability, Washability and Perspective

“…The device could withstand 2000 bending cycles and 16 washing cycles of 10 min each without a significant change in voltage output of the battery activated with 100 mL of salt solution (NaCl) (Figure 4a). The higher durability of the device was further verified by the unaffected surface morphology of the cathode portion against washing [156]. Electroactive regenerated cellulose yarn produced via roll-to-roll coating with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS)/Ethylene glycol (EG) showed high conductivity (36 Scm −1 ) and durability.…”

Nature‐inspired materials and designs for flexible lithium‐ion batteries

“…Besides, safety and biocompatibility are also important considerations for developing future wearable textile FLBs. 102,103 The ever-increasing demand for fibrous and textile wearable electronics has boosted the investigation of highly flexible and stretchable fiber batteries, and a great number of attractive results have been reported. However, due to the scope of the present review, we only try to provide a brief outline of the development and research status of the fibrous FLBs.…”

“…Moreover, to achieve better design esthetics, ultrathin and lightweight textile FLBs are recommended. Besides, safety and biocompatibility are also important considerations for developing future wearable textile FLBs 102,103 . The ever‐increasing demand for fibrous and textile wearable electronics has boosted the investigation of highly flexible and stretchable fiber batteries, and a great number of attractive results have been reported.…”

Wearable and Washable MnO2−Zn Battery Packaged by Vacuum Sealing

“…Conventional battery systems are rigid, heavy, and bulky, so innovative structures and advanced materials must be introduced to realize textronic batteries, which are a new paradigm in energy supply systems [ 9 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. One−dimensional yarn−structured batteries have attracted attention due to their microscale diameter, omni−directional flexibility, and scalability into two− or three−dimensional structures [ 16 , 17 , 18 ].…”