Recent Advances in Wearable Textile-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerators

Abstract

We review recent results on textile triboelectric nanogenerators (T-TENGs), which function both as harvesters of mechanical energy and self-powered motion sensors. T-TENGs can be flexible, breathable, and lightweight. With a combination of traditional and novel manufacturing methods, including nanofibers, T-TENGs can deliver promising power output. We review the evolution of T-TENG device structures based on various textile material configurations and fabrication methods, along with demonstrations of self-powered systems. We also provide a detailed analysis of different textile materials and approaches used to enhance output. Additionally, we discuss integration capabilities with supercapacitors and potential applications across various fields such as health monitoring, human activity monitoring, human-machine interaction applications, etc. This review concludes by addressing the challenges and key research questions that remain for developing viable T-TENG technology.

Keywords: human motion energy harvesting; nanofibers; smart textiles; triboelectric nanogenerators; wearable electronics.

Figure 5

SE mode of fiber/yarn-TENG. (a) Fiber-TENG based on silicone-coated stainless steel yarns, reproduced with permission from [58] (Copyright 2017, Wiley); (b) core–shell-yarn-based triboelectric nanogenerator by spinning PU fiber with stainless steel fibers, reproduced with permission from [59] (Copyright 2017, American Chemical Society).

Figure 6

CS mode of fiber/yarn-TENG: (a) fiber-TENG prepared by the coating of CNT/PMMA/PDMS on silicone rubber tube, reproduced with permission from [60] (Copyright 2017, Royal Society of Chemistry); (b) the fabrication process of the woven-structured TENG, reproduced with permission from [61] (Copyright 2021, Elsevier).

Figure 1

Four basic operation modes of TENGs. (a) Contact Separation. (b) Single Electrode. (c) Lateral Sliding. (d) Freestanding Triboelectric mode. Loads are depicted as resistors, connected to electrodes (or ground). The electrodes are coated on tribo-positive and tribo-negative materials, which move relative to each other.

Figure 2

Demonstration of TS-TENG sewn on clothes for mechanical energy harvesting. (a) The output voltage and (b) current of TS-TENG device (10 cm × 12 cm). (c) TS-TENG was connected to a wearable night-time running light. (d) Night running light was illuminated by the TS-TENG as the person swinging his arm. (e) Digital watch was connected to the TS-TENG without batteries. (f) TS-TENG powered a digital watch [45]. Reproduced with permission from [45] (Copyright 2018, Royal Society of Chemistry).

Figure 3

(a) Schematic image of a cloth-based TENG device with a grating structure. (b) SEM image of the surface of nylon cloth microstructure. (c) photographic image of the grid structure of cloth TENG. (d) Fabrication process of the T-TENG. Reproduced with permission from [48] (Copyright 2015, American Chemical Society).

Figure 4

Structure design of fully cloth-based T-TENGs harvesting mechanical energy from human movements (a) schematic representative of T-TENG sewn on cloth, inset: photographic image of wearable T-TENG. (b) Schematic illustration of the fabrication process. (c,d) are the SEM images of nylon and polyester fabrics; the insets in (c,d) are the corresponding partial enlargements of the respective nylon and polyester fabrics. Reproduced with permission from [50] (Copyright 2020, American Chemical Society).

Figure 7

Fabrication of the 2DW-WTNG core shell structure. (a) The schematic diagram of the weaving process. Scanning electron microscope images of nylon (b) and polyester (c) fabrics, respectively. (d,e) Optical image of nylon coated copper wire and polyester coated steel wire. (f) 2DW-WTNG optical image. Reproduced with permission from [64] (Copyright 2019, Springer Nature).

Figure 7

Fabrication of the 2DW-WTNG core shell structure. (a) The schematic diagram of the weaving process. Scanning electron microscope images of nylon (b) and polyester (c) fabrics, respectively. (d,e) Optical image of nylon coated copper wire and polyester coated steel wire. (f) 2DW-WTNG optical image. Reproduced with permission from [64] (Copyright 2019, Springer Nature).

Figure 8

Power generation characteristics of 2DW-WTNG. (a) Illustrating the process of generating electricity. (b,c) 2DW-WTNG output voltage and current. (d) Power density at different load resistances [64]. Reproduced with permission from [64] (Copyright 2019, Springer Nature).

Figure 9

(a) Schematic structure of laminated fabrics and TENG textiles. (b) Optical image of TENG textile and freestanding laminate fabric is sewn on cloth for energy harvesting from human motion. Reproduced with permission from [65] (Copyright 2019, Elsevier).

Figure 10

Schematic illustration and fabrication procedure of T-TENG. (a) Fabrication process of the liquid metal/polymer core/shell fiber (LCF) structure. (b–e) Digital photograph (b) original ultra-fine hollow fiber polymer; (c) hollow fiber polymer after pumping process, (d) T-TENG weaving and (e) tri-color PTFE fibers. Reproduced with permission [68] (Copyright 2020, Elsevier).

Figure 11

Working principle and electrical output of the T-TENG structure. (a) operation of the device in a contact separation mode. (b–d) electrical outputs, including V_oc, I_sc and power density at different load resistances. Reproduced with permission from [68] (Copyright 2020, Elsevier).

Figure 12

Illustration of the fabrication process of PVDF/GQD composite NFs by the ES method and diagram of the TENG device structure. Structure of N-doped GQDs and their luminescence images under UV excitation (λ ~266 nm). The inset shows high-resolution TEM images of GQDs. Reproduced with permission from [82] (Copyright 2019, Elsevier).

Figure 13

Schematic representation and electrochemical characterization of the yarn SC. (a) Schematic view of the structure of the yarn SC. (b) The optical image of the fabric SC woven by the PA yarn and the yarn SC. (c) An optical image showing the fabric SC hanging on a pencil. (d) CV curves of the yarn SC at different scan rates. (e) Charge–discharge profiles at different current loads. (f) Charge–discharge curve data bending from 0−180° degrees. (g) Stability cycles of the yarn SC. (h) CV curves in series connection. (i) Charge–discharge profiles in series connection. Reproduced with permission from [84] (Copyright 2020, American Chemical Society).

Figure 14

(a) The application scenarios of HITWS. (b) The structure and working principle of HITWS. Reproduced with permission from [92] (Copyright 2024, Elsevier).