Progress in textile-based triboelectric nanogenerators for smart fabrics

Highlights

• Device structures of t-TENGs are divided into three categories for comparison.

• Processing technology and pattern design's effect on the output performance and washability and tailorability of t-TENGs are reviewed.

• Applications of t-TENGs in acting as smart fabrics to provide self-powered sensing capability are summarized.

Abstract

Textile-based triboelectric nanogenerators (t-TENGs) are excellent choices of mechanical energy harvesting and self-powered sensing for wearable technology, especially for constructing smart fabrics. They combine advantages of textile for its flexibility, breathability, lightweight and TENG for its ease of fabrication and promising output performance. Many progresses have been made due to the surging interests. In this review, we will introduce the construction of t-TENGs briefly at first, including three dominant types of device structure and the new emerging design based on three-dimensionally textile. Investigation about the effect of textile processing method (weaving, knitting, sewing, etc.) and structure pattern on the t-TENG's performance is reviewed for further understanding and optimizing the device. Several great demonstrations about the washability and tailorability of t-TENGs are presented based on elevated material properties and rational device design, which is long-cherished for wearable electronics. Finally, the article ends with reviewing progresses in integrations of t-TENGs with other energy harvesting/storing technology for a more powerful textile energy source and construction of smart fabrics with diverse functions for emerging applications in wearable technologies.

Introduction

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) couple triboelectric effect and electrostatic induction to convert mechanical energy into electricity [1], [2], [3], [4], [5]. Due to the ease of fabrication, tremendous progress have been made since the first discovery in 2012 [6], including boosting output performance by optimizing interface properties and the involved materials [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], introducing new device structure for new application scenarios [12], [13], [14], [15], [16], [17], promoting understanding of the technology via theoretical research, [18], [19], [20], [21] etc. With the increasing demand of wearable technologies, textile-based electronic devices have attracted surging interests [22], [23], [24], [25], [26], [27], [28], [29], [30]. Especially, constructing TENG with traditional textile technology provides a versatile solution for future lightweight, portable, flexible, and green energy supply in wearable systems. As the textile industry is well-established, making the textile-based TENGs (t-TENG) compatibility with the existing technologies in the textile industry would enable the design flexibility at a high level and the mass production for practical applications. Many efforts have been made toward this goal. In this review, we will firstly give a brief introduction about the device structures used primarily for constructing t-TENGs, and also the new trends. Then, from the point of view of textile itself, investigations about the impact of textile processing method and structure pattern on the t-TENG's characteristics and performance, and demonstrations of washable/tailorable t-TENGs are summarized. Finally, we end with the recent progress of t-TENGs working in a hybrid mode cooperating with other textile-based energy harvesting/storing technology and acting as smart fabrics to provide self-powered sensing capability with human body.