Wearable All-Fabric-Based Triboelectric Generator for Water Energy Harvesting

Realizing energy harvesting from water flow using triboelectric generators (TEGs) based on our daily wearable fabric or textile has practical significance. Challenges remain on methods to fabricate conformable TEGs that can be easily incorporated into waterproof textile, or directly harvest energy from water using hydrophobic textile. Herein, a wearable all-fabric-based TEG for water energy harvesting, with additional self-cleaning and antifouling properties is reported for the first time. Hydrophobic cellulose oleoyl ester nanoparticles (HCOENPs) are prepared from microcrystalline cellulose, as a low-cost and nontoxic coating material to achieve superhydrophobic coating on fabrics, including cotton, silk, flax, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide (nylon), and polyurethane. The resultant PET fabric-based water-TEG can generate an instantaneous output power density of 0.14 W m⁻² at a load resistance of 100 MΩ. An all-fabric-based dual-mode TEG is further realized to harvest both the electrostatic energy and mechanical energy of water, achieving the maximum instantaneous output power density of 0.30 W m⁻². The HCOENPs-coated fabric provides excellent breathability, washability, and environmentally friendly fabric-based TEGs, making it a promising wearable self-powered system.