A wearable fabric that can produce electricity from natural body movements has been developed by researchers.
The new fabric, developed by researchers at the University of Loughborough (UK) and the University of Moratuwa (Sri Lanka), is embedded with small power generators known as Triboelectric Nanogenerators (TENGs). The technique can turn common textile materials into energy-generating textiles using established methods such as yarn coating, dip coating and screen-printing to apply triboelectrically active solutions.
The wearable TENG-containing fabrics are similar in texture to knitted materials used to make jumpers and T-shirts. However, unlike basic pullovers, the energy-generating textiles can produce electricity to operate low-power electronics.
Dr Ishara Dharmasena, a lecturer at the University of Loughborough’s School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering (MEME), believes the technology will be beneficial for future smart textile and wearable electronic applications. He also thinks it could support the global shift to remote health monitoring.
Dharmasena says: “With this research, we were able to demonstrate that we can use the existing textile materials and common textile manufacturing techniques to produce wearable TENGs with balanced electrical and comfort properties. The all-textile TENG technology we have developed has a convenient power source and a self-powered sensor technology – something that may have been seen as science fiction probably a decade ago.”
He adds: “This work will lead to further research on how we can convert the common textiles into energy-generating clothing for various future applications including healthcare, communication, sports and personal electronics.”
HOW IT WORKS
The 4 x 4 cm lightweight and thin TENG textile the researchers created produces over 35V of voltage using mild artificial movements that replicate slow body movements. The researchers say this could potentially power low-power health sensors, environmental sensors and electronic devices in the near future.
According to the researchers, TENG devices collect static charges, including those that make a balloon stick to a wall when rubbed against a jumper, or those that give a sudden shock when a carpet is stepped on. Once attached to the human body or clothing, TENG devices slide or vibrate with movements to create an electrical signal through a process called electrostatic induction.
Experts have looked to use TENGs in fabric before, but, due to them being made of rigid, bulky plastic sheets and expensive manufacturing techniques, past clothing applications have been unsuccessful. Dharmasena says his technique overcomes these issues by combining new conventional textile materials and carefully engineered TENG device designs.
These devices display improved electricity generation and meet most of the comfort and durability requirements for textile products – a balance that has been difficult to achieve so far in TENG research area, according to the researchers.
This research is part of Dharmasena’s Royal Academy of Engineering-funded project focused on creating sensor-containing super-smart textiles that can be used for remote health monitoring. Last year, WTiN spoke to Dharmasena about his work regarding clothing that improves quality of life.
Source: https://www.wtin.com/