Rib Stitch Knitted Extremely Stretchable and Washable Textile Triboelectric Nanogenerator

Abstract

In recent years with developing wearable technologies, one of the challenges is energy consumption. Rechargeable or removable batteries are incompatible with wearable applications. Because the batteries are not flexible, foldable, stretchable, lightweight, and require substitutes or charges. Consequently, the best choice is self‐charging systems. The extremely stretchable and washable textile triboelectric nanogenerator (T‐TENG) is designed and fabricated in this work. It is knitted with a rib stitch technique by double twisted thread‐based. Subsequently, the rib stitch method is chosen to achieve the most stretchability and flexibility in this textile by investigating the knitting techniques. Likewise, the active triboelectric materials are polyvinyl chloride and polyamide 6. The maximum instantaneous peak power density is ≈18 mW m‐2 and the measured output voltage and current are 29.2 V and 5.3 μA, respectively. Following this, the experimental test report on the index finger, the relationship between textile tension and voltage production, and the resulting wash and durability tests are provided. This work successfully demonstrates T‐TENG quite compatible with self‐power wearable applications, which can harvest energy from the ambient mechanical tensions and capable of supply power for low power systems in wearable electronics.

Textile-Based Mechanical Sensors: A Review

“…In addition to improving the deformation performance by designing the fiber structure, the deformation capacity of the fabric can also be improved by studying the weaving process and weaving structure. Rezaei et al [69] twisted cotton threads with eight copper wires and then coated them with reactive triboelectric materials poly vinyl chloride (PVC) and polyamide 6 (PA 6), respectively. The two types of fibers were twisted and prepared into a double twisted thread as a triboelectric sensor.…”

“…To solve this problem, it is necessary for new technologies to replace traditional adhesives to ensure conformal contact between TMSs and human skin. [68]; (e) large deformation sensors based on ribbed weave, reproduced with permission from [69]; (f) fabric sensors breathability based on pre-stretching, reproduced with permission from [72]; and (g) fabric sensors breathability based on coating shrinkage, reproduced with permission from ref. [73].…”

“…TMSs integrated in clothing have more comfort to monitor mechanical signals; additionally, although the skin-conformality is not as good as epidermic sensors and tattoo sensors, TMSs can also be attached to the skin directly for more accurate signals by traditional adhesives. The weaker adhesion between the TMSs and the body causes loss of contact of TMSs from (c) large area detection mechanical stimulation using electrical time domain reflectometer, reproduced with permission from [66]; (d) large deformation sensors based on spiral structure, reproduced with permission from [68]; (e) large deformation sensors based on ribbed weave, reproduced with permission from [69]; (f) fabric sensors breathability based on pre-stretching, reproduced with permission from [72]; and (g) fabric sensors breathability based on coating shrinkage, reproduced with permission from ref. [73].…”

“…Advantages. CNTs means carbon nanotubes, PVC means poly vinyl chloride and PA6 means Polyamide 6 (a) large area array sensors based on piezoresistive film, reproduced with permission from [64]; (b) large area array sensors based on fibers, reproduced with permission from [65];(c) large area detection mechanical stimulation using electrical time domain reflectometer, reproduced with permission from[66]; (d) large deformation sensors based on spiral structure, reproduced with permission from[68]; (e) large deformation sensors based on ribbed weave, reproduced with permission from[69]; (f) fabric sensors breathability based on pre-stretching, reproduced with permission from[72]; and (g) fabric sensors breathability based on coating shrinkage, reproduced with permission from ref [73]…”

Energy Harvesting Materials and Structures for Smart Textile Applications: Recent Progress and Path Forward

“…Stretchable textiles are desirable for deformation-based piezoelectric systems. A highly stretchable piezoelectric knit fabric was created using a rib stitch structure with a double twisted yarn comprised of cotton threads and lacquered copper wires [ 110 ]. Alternating rows were created using the yarn coated with polyamide and coated with PVC as the positive and negative components of the energy harvesting system.…”