Integrating a Triboelectric Nanogenerator and a Zinc-Ion Battery on a Designed Flexible 3D Spacer Fabric

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Detail(s)

Original languageEnglish
Article numberUNSP 1800150
Journal / PublicationSmall Methods
Volume2
Issue number10
Online published20 Jul 2018
Publication statusPublished - 16 Oct 2018

Abstract

Powering flexible electronics by wearable energy-storage or energy-harvesting devices has attracted enormous research interest recently. However, the continual powering offered by individual energy-storage devices, such as rechargeable batteries or supercapacitors, becomes problematic once the energy stored is fully discharged. Therefore, the integration of energy-storage and energy-harvesting techniques becomes a feasible approach to provide a continual power supply for flexible and wearable electronics. Herein, an integrated flexible and wearable triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) and rechargeable Zn-ion battery (ZIB) system based on a flexible 3D spacer fabric is proposed as a promising wearable power unit for powering personal electronic devices. The energy harvested by the TENG from human motion can be utilized to refill the ZIB once its stored energy is exhausted. Moreover, the power unit can be easily scaled up to multipixel, due to the compatibility of the fabric with the textile industry, which renders the system with promise as a practical wearable personal power station in the future.

Research Area(s)

  • 3D spacer fabrics, flexible rechargeable zinc-ion batteries, triboelectric nanogenerators, wearable integrated power units, WEARABLE ELECTRONICS, BIOMECHANICAL ENERGY, SENSOR, STORAGE