Self‐Powered Fire Safety Indicator Based on Fabric‐Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator

Fire‐retardant materials‐based triboelectric nanogenerators (F‐TENG) are gaining significant interest for their dual roles in energy harvesting and self‐powered sensing, especially suited for areas with limited electricity access or during fire emergencies. Despite this, there has been limited exploration of F‐TENGs, such as the availability of new fire retardant materials and fire‐related scenarios, where multifunctional and adaptable devices are increasingly in demand. This study first introduces a flame‐retardant material based on white glue and baking soda coated upon the cotton cloth and further, it is used as an effective triboelectric material in F‐TENG operating in the single‐electrode mode. The treated fabric is obtained by simple coating and drying techniques, which illustrates that cotton fabrics demonstrate excellent self‐extinguishing properties. The F‐TENG achieves a maximum peak power of 61 μW at a tapping frequency of 2 Hz. The output of TENG maintains 80% of its original electrical voltage output (60–47 V) after burning 6 times. The F‐TENG is subsequently utilized to create a self‐powered sensor for fire indication, enhancing fire rescue and evacuation efforts. This invention expands the application of self‐powered technology for preventing building fires, which could lead to the creation of urban ecosystems and improvements in smart structures.