Wet spun core-shell fibers for wearable triboelectric nanogenerators

Wearable electronics are of great interest due to developments in communication technologies, internet of things, artificial intelligence, and data science. Textile based wearable electronics provide advantages like flexibility, stretchability, and breathability. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are highly promising for powering wearable electronics. However, the current production methods of textile based TENGs are complex. In this study, coaxial wet spinning method was used to produce stable, stretchable, fiber/fabric based TENGs. The conductive core of the fibers was composed of composites of carbon black (CB), silver nanowires (Ag NWs) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), while the dielectric shell was bare TPU. The open circuit voltage and short circuit currents of the 1 cm long core-shell fiber TENG were 2 V and 42 nA, respectively. In order to examine the weaving potential of the produced fibers, fabrics in different patterns were woven with produced wet spun fibers. Open circuit voltage, short circuit current and maximum power output of the woven fabric TENGs were 25 V, 180 nA and 0.43 µW/cm2 respectively. An IoT wristband was also developed by sewing core-shell fibers into conventional fabrics. The IoT wristband was used as a controller to play PACMAN, demonstrating the potential of wireless control in computer operations.