Hierarchically Plied Mechano-Electrochemical Energy Harvesting Using a Scalable Kinematic Sensing Textile Woven from a Graphene-Coated Commercial Cotton Yarn

Abstract

Wearable sensing systems are suitable for monitoringhuman motion.To realize a cost-effective and self-powered strain-sensing fiber,we developed a mechano-electrochemical harvesting yarn and textileusing hierarchically arranged plied yarns composed of meter-long graphene-coatedcotton yarns. Such a fiber relies on the principle of electrochemicalcapacity change to convert mechanical energy to electric energy. Further,this harvester can be used as a self-powered strain sensor becauseits output depends on mechanical stimuli. Additionally, the yarn canbe woven into a kinematic sensing textile that measures the strengthand direction of the applied force. The textile-type harvester cansuccessfully detect various human movements such as pressing, bending,and stretching. The proposed sensing fiber will pave the way for thedevelopment of advanced wearable systems for ubiquitous healthcarein the future.