Large-scale fabrication of robust textile triboelectric nanogenerators

Smart energy textiles based on triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are promising power supply and sensor arrays for wearable electronics and artificial intelligence. However, the challenges of the smart textile in large-scale industrialized production, facile and universal fabrication process, and enough robustness still remains. In this study, a textile-based triboelectric nanogenerator (t-TENG) is proposed through a facile and universal fabrication process. Liquid-metal/polymer core/shell fibers (LCFs) structure as the basic unit of TENG textiles, can be extensively achieved by pumping liquid metal into uniform ultrafine polymer hollow fibers, which contribute to the large-scale industrialized production of TENG textiles. In addition to gaining a high output, the t-TENG demonstrates excellent acid and alkali resistance, and high friction durability. Furthermore, profiting from the universal fabrication process, the polymer hollow fibers can be replaced by any type of fibers with various functions or colors according to practical applications (e.g., the silicone rubber could be an excellent choice for highly stretchable devices). Moreover, the fabricated t-TENGs demonstrate great capability in self-powered sensors for smart home controlling. All these advantages of the t-TENG exhibit its great potential for further application in wearable electronics and artificial intelligence and it will speed up the development of IoTs in the near future. The robust textile based triboelectric nanogenerators, which are constructed by soft liquid metal and ultrafine polymer hollow fibers through a simple pumping strategy, can be large-scale manufactured. The t-TENG based energy harvester possesses high electric output, excellent acid and alkali resistance, and high friction durability. It can be applicated in various human motion energy harvesting and self-powered sensing systems. [Display omitted] •A textile-based triboelectric nanogenerator (t-TENG) is proposed through a facile and universal fabrication process.•The liquid-metal/polymer core/shell fibers can be achieved by pumping liquid metal into ultrafine polymer hollow fibers.•The t-TENG is promising for human body energy harvesting and self-powered sensing systems.