Textile-based triboelectric nanogenerator with alternating positive and negative freestanding woven structure for harvesting sliding energy in all directions

Abstract

A novel textile-based triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) with woven structure operating in freestanding triboelectric-layer mode, defined as a woven-TENG, has been developed. Whereas most woven-structured TENGs operate in contact-separation mode and consist of one type of triboelectric material, this woven-TENG comprises woven electrodes and woven strips of positive and negative triboelectric material, which form a checker-like pattern over the electrodes with matching periodicity. The implementation of the positive and negative triboelectric material significantly improves the performance of the woven-TENG. Furthermore, in contrast to the conventional grating-structured and woven-structured TENG, which are designed to operate only in one moving direction, this new design also allows the woven-TENG to harvest energy from allplanar directions of movement. The woven-TENG with woven strips of nylon and polytetrafluoroethylenevinyl (PTFE) fabric can generate a root mean square (RMS) open-circuit voltage of 62.9 V, an RMS short-circuit current of 1.77 µA and a maximum RMS power of 34.8 µW at a load resistance of 50 MΩ, a mechanical oscillation of 2 Hz and a contact force of 5 N. This corresponds to a maximum RMS power density of 5.43 mW/m 2 .

Triboelectric nanogenerators for smart agriculture

“…Due to the movement of the dielectric layer, alternating currents generates between the paired electrodes. [198][199][200] Since there is no direct physical contact between the dielectric layers, the TENG in the independent layer mode does not generate material and wear during long-term operation. Therefore, the stability and durability of TENGs in the freestanding triboelectric-layer mode are better than those of the three working modes mentioned above.…”

“…When the triboelectric layer approaches and separates the electrode under the action of an external force, an asymmetric induced charge distribution generates between the electrodes and the dielectric layer due to electrostatic induction, which causes an alternating current to be generated between the two electrodes to balance the change in potential. Due to the movement of the dielectric layer, alternating currents generates between the paired electrodes 198–200 …”

Toward Large-Scale Energy Harvesting by a UV-Curable Organic-Coating-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator

“…To push the TENGs into practical applications, many research advances have been made to improve the output performance of the devices, including surface modification [ 28 , 29 ], structure optimization [ 30 , 31 ], ion injection [ 32 , 33 ], and intermediate layer implantation [ 34 , 35 ], expanding the fields of application to self-powered sensing, smart wearables, and implantable electronics [ 36 , 37 , 38 ]. Despite these advances, most devices need micro/nanostructures and/or complex and expensive instrumentation, making inexpensive and large-scale mass production difficult, which has ultimately limited their practical applications.…”

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

“…Hence, to improve stabi ity and washability, variant structures have been proposed that differ from materia choice, modification, fabrication, and even assessment protocols. Although much researc To date, many high-performance e-textiles with improved performance are reported [102][103][104][105][106], however, poor stability and washability have been the major challenges restricting their true practical essence. Moreover, the incompetent durability of the e-textiles may encounter environmental and safety concerns by releasing toxic organic/inorganic nanostructured compounds to the ecosystem and wearer [107].…”