Flexible and freely cuttable fleecy triboelectric fabrics for ultra-high scalability in self-powered sensing applications

Abstract

Flexible textile-based sensors, renowned for their adaptability and comfort, hold considerable promise across multiple fields. However, their scalability remains constrained by factors such as material selection and manufacturing processes. This study presents an innovative approach for the efficient production of flexible sensing fabrics utilizing three-thread fleecy knitting technology, achieving a high production rate of approximately 11.53 m²/h. The resulting fleecy sensing fabric works as a triboelectric nanogenerator, generating electrical signals and reaching a peak power density of approximately 2446 μW/m² when rubbed against cotton fabric. Constructed entirely from commercially available yarn materials, the fabric exhibits exceptional flexibility, fullness, and breathability, while maintaining consistent output performance even after multiple machine wash cycles. This fabric can be freely cut and customized into self-powered flexible sensors for diverse applications, such as insoles for monitoring movement patterns and carpets for tracking movement postures. Enhanced by machine learning algorithms, the fleecy sensing fabric demonstrates robust recognition capabilities. This synergy paves the way for the development of cost-effective, comfortable, and widely applicable flexible sensors, thereby broadening their potential for practical implementation in diverse scenarios.