Shanghai researchers make breakthrough in power-generating fabrics

A research team at Donghua University in Shanghai has uncovered a way to achieve the continuous and scalable manufacture of amphibious energy yarns and textiles, which could pave the way for smart clothing.

A paper titled Continuous and Scalable Manufacture of Amphibious Energy Yarns and Textiles was published on Nature Communications, an international peer-reviewed scientific journal, on Feb 22.

According to Gong Wei, the first author of the paper, the amphibious energy yarns and textiles are composed of highly elastic polymer materials (rubber) and spiral metal fibers. The two materials produce an electro-transfer reaction during any deformation before generating power.

With the help of core-sheath structure and gain-coupled power generation mechanism, researchers found that the amphibious energy yarns and textiles can be self-generating without interaction with other objects, and can be used in various situations, even in liquids.

Hou Chengyi, associate professor of the team and school of materials science and engineering at Donghua University, said the special yearns and textiles can be made into elastic power-generating fabrics.

Power-generating yarns can also be woven with other fibers, such as nylon fiber and polyacrylonitrile fibers, so that the breathability, comfort level and power generation of textiles can be effectively controlled.