Scalable and Ultra-Sensitive Nanofibers Coaxial Yarn-Woven Triboelectric Nanogenerator Textile Sensors for Real-Time Gait Analysis

Adv Sci (Weinh). 2024 May 15:e2401436. doi: 10.1002/advs.202401436. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Yarn-woven triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have greatly advanced wearable sensor technology, but their limited sensitivity and stability hinder broad adoption. To address these limitations, Poly(VDF-TrFE) and P(olyadiohexylenediamine (PA66)-based nanofibers coaxial yarns (NCYs) combining coaxial conjugated electrospinning and online conductive adhesive coating are developed. The integration of these NCYs led to enhanced TENGs (NCY-TENGs), notable for their flexibility, stretchability, and improved sensitivity, which is ideal for capturing body motion signals. One significant application of this technology is the fabrication of smart insoles from NCY-TENG plain-woven fabrics. These insoles are highly sensitive and possess antibacterial, breathable, and washable properties, making them ideal for real-time gait monitoring in patients with diabetic foot conditions. The NCY-TENGs and their derivatives show immense potential for a variety of wearable electronic devices, representing a considerable advancement in the field of wearable sensors.

Keywords: biomedical applications; coaxial yarns; electrospinning; triboelectric nanogenerators; wearable devices.