Flame-retardant textile based triboelectric nanogenerators for energy harvesting and high-temperature sensing

Fire disasters present a grave threat to public safety and societal progress, underlining the urgent need to improve fire escape and rescue systems. Wearable devices constructed from triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have emerged as innovative tools for monitoring a range of bodily activities, such as motions, gestures, and touch, enabling them to execute multiple tasks simultaneously. Despite this, TENG sensors still face obstacles in terms of operating within a broad temperature spectrum and detecting multiple bodily movements. Herein, we developed a flexible, flame-retardant single-electrode TENG based on a flame-retardant textile which is made from glass fiber cloth coated with vulcanized silicone rubber. The prepared TENG exhibits high temperature resistance and excellent electrical output performance. Once equipped with a rectifier, the TENG is adept at illuminating 300 LEDs, charging diverse capacitors, and powering electronic devices like watches and calculators. Additionally, the TENG excels in capturing biomechanical energy derived from actions such as finger taps and cuff movements. Integrating a switching mechanism comprising a Darlington transistor and relay allows the TENG to operate as an electronic switch for managing circuits. Impressively, even after exposure to temperatures as high as 300 degrees C, the TENG maintains 23 % of its original electrical performance, highlighting its immense promise for use in firefighting, wearable sensors, and intelligent home furnishings.