Multifunctional Coaxial Energy Fiber toward Energy Harvesting, Storage, and Utilization

Abstract

Fibrous energy−autonomy electronics are highly desired for wearable soft electronics, human−machine interfaces, and the Internet of Things. How to effectively integrate various functional energy fibers into them and realize versatile applications is an urgent need to be fulfilled. Here, a multifunctional coaxial energy fiber has been developed toward energy harvesting, energy storage, and energy utilization. The energy fiber is composed of an all fibershaped triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), supercapacitor (SC), and pressure sensor in a coaxial geometry. The inner core is a fibrous SC by a green activation strategy for energy storage; the outer sheath is a fibrous TENG in single-electrode mode for energy harvesting, and the outer friction layer and inner layer (covered with Ag) constitute a selfpowered pressure sensor. The electrical performances of each energy component are systematically investigated. The fibrous SC shows a length specific capacitance density of 13.42 mF•cm −1 , good charging/discharging rate capability, and excellent cycling stability (∼96.6% retention). The fibrous TENG shows a maximum power of 2.5 μW to power an electronic watch and temperature sensor. The pressure sensor has a good enough sensitivity of 1.003 V•kPa −1 to readily monitor the real-time finger motions and work as a tactile interface. The demonstrated energy fibers have exhibited stable electrochemical and mechanical performances under mechanical deformation, which make them attractive for wearable electronics. The demonstrated soft and multifunctional coaxial energy fiber is also of great significance in a sustainable human−machine interactive system, intelligent robotic skin, security tactile switches, etc.

Advanced Multifunctional Aqueous Rechargeable Batteries Design: From Materials and Devices to Systems

“…Figure 4g illustrates a good example of this configuration with a core-shell structure, sharing the same axis for all the modules. [138] As stated above, owing to the excellent knitting and weaving properties, fibershaped devices with diverse functionalities can be simultaneously woven into all-in-one integrated electronic fabrics or textiles. Recently, using an industrial loom technology, a flexible self-charging integrated electronic textile has been manufactured by bridging energy harvesting fibers and energy-storing fibers (Figure 4h).…”

Electronic fibers and textiles: Recent progress and perspective

“…Recently, in order to substitute the external power source, multifunctional and coaxial energy fibers integrated functions of energy harvesting and energy storage have been developed. The energy fibers could power devices in a sustainable and continuous way without external power sources (Figure 9C) (Han et al, 2021). Similarly, electronic textiles with integrated functions can be constructed.…”

Fiber‐Shaped Electronic Devices

“…It displayed a ≈96.6% retention of cyclic stability, a maximum power of 2.5 μW, and a sensitivity of 1.003 V kPa −1 . [ 271 ] An integrated multifunctional sensor was also prepared by Pan et al., who created an all‐in‐one stretchable coaxial‐fiber sensor that simultaneously detects strain and stores energy via an SC. It was fabricated on an elastic fiber with a maximum voltage of 1.8 V by using manganese dioxide and PPv as positive and negative electrodes, respectively, on aligned CNT sheets.…”