Recent progress on textile-based triboelectric nanogenerators

Abstract

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) are one of the most promising candidates for powering wearable and portable devices. Example TENGs have demonstrated flexibility, light weight, biocompatibility, versatility and good performance. Textiles are a potential substrate onto, or into, which wearable technology is increasingly being incorporated but supplying power remains an enduring challenge. TENGs are a potential textile based mechanical energy harvesting power supply and there has been an increasing effort to combine TENGs with fabrics. A significant challenge exists in the integration without losing the performance of the TENG or the original properties (appearance, breathability, washability, and durability) and feel of the textile. Various approaches towards the realisation of textile-based TENGs (T-TENGs) have been demonstrated. Depending on its structure, T-TENGs can be divided into two main types, fabric-based TENG and fibre-based TENG. The fabric-based TENG is composed of conventional and/or modified fabrics, which serve as a substrate and/or a triboelectric material. The fibre-based TENG is fabricated as a single fibre or a collection of interlaced fibres. This paper provides an up to date review of the progress in the research of T-TENGs. The paper covers the basic operating principles, possible operation modes, textile manufacturing methods, material selections, T-TENG fabrication process, surface modification and structural designs. Issues, such as standardised measurement parameters, the challenges and limitations of T-TENG are discussed.

Smart Textile‐Integrated Microelectronic Systems for Wearable Applications

“…Such generators have been attracted extensive research efforts due to high convert coefficient, low cost, environmental friendless, universal availability, easy of fabrication and a wide range of potential applications, making tremendous processes in boosting output performance, theoretical models, structural design165f,166 for various of applications since the first proposed triboelectric nanogenerator at 2012 . The development of TENGs based on textile platform have been reviewed recently, including the basic components of fibers, yarns, fabrics made using various weaving and knitting techniques, and the possessing electrical outputs. In these cases, TENGs with various structures have been developed and integrated in textile, such as functional fiber in woven structures (Figure f,g),54,166a,169 layered structures, or knitted structures, and fabric with nanopatterned/nanostructured surfaces,166b,172 forming textile‐based TENGs.…”

Textile‐Based Thermoelectric Generators and Their Applications

“…Knitting is a common method to produce stretchable and soft fabrics by interlocking loops of yarns. There are two main knitting methods: weft knitting with one continuous yarn forming courses across the fabric ( Figure a) and warp knitting with series of yarns forming wales in the vertical direction (Figure b) . The knitted fabrics showing ultrahigh elasticity up to 500% are much more flexible than other types of fabrics due to their loose structure and thus may have better thermal insulation performance.…”

“…Two typical knitted structures: a) weft knitting and b) warp knitting. Three typical woven structures: c) plain weave, d) twill weave, and c) satin weave . Reproduced with permission from Ref .…”

“…Weaving is another industrial textile production method that is applied to produce woven textiles by interlacing warp and weft yarns at right angles. Different weaving methods can result in various textile structures, including plain weave, twill weave, and satin weave, as shown in Figure c–e . Lee et al fabricated a plain‐weave T‐TEG using p‐type Sb 2 Te 3 and n‐type Bi 2 Te 3 ‐coated electrospun nanofiber‐based yarns.…”

“…Three typical woven structures: c) plain weave, d) twill weave, and c) satin weave. [52] Reproduced with permission from Ref. [52] Copyright 2019 Elsevier.…”