The need for staying connected is increasing day by day, and to do so, one requires a constant or at least continual power supply for their smartphones and other electronic devices. This necessity has led to the invention of smart clothes that can help generate power for running small electronic gadgets while one is on the move. Although this technology was initially used by defense personnel, hitch-hikers, and mountaineers, the rising demand for a continuous power supply suggests that this technology will soon become available to the masses.

Clothing and smartphones are two items that individuals carry every single day, regardless of their location. Imagine if clothes could be turned into power generators. Many researchers and textile designers are working to turn this concept into a reality, exploring different means of generating power. As a result, we now have several groundbreaking technologies that could make this incredible idea possible.

One approach to developing this idea is by harnessing the mechanical energy of an individual. There are two main ways to scavenge energy from the human body: kinetic and thermal. Kinetic energy is sourced from various activities like breathing, walking, running, and all kinds of physical movements. Piezoelectric materials are used to convert mechanical energy into electric energy efficiently. These materials, typically made of ceramics or polymers, capture vibration energy. This concept is already in use in walkways, where the energy generated by people's footsteps can be harvested to generate power. The maximum energy generated by an average human body, around 67 watts, can be derived from human footsteps.

Thermal energy, on the other hand, derives power from body heat and can generate between 2 to 4.8 watts of energy. Human bodies release heat into the atmosphere even through non-physical activities, such as when food is being digested. Thermoelectric technology captures this otherwise wasted energy to create power, utilizing thermal sensors to generate power from temperature differences.

Furthermore, nanotechnology is also used to design clothes that can generate power. The fibers used in making clothing are coated with microfibers of zinc oxide wires. These microfibers work with the mechanical movements of the wearer to generate power. These nanofibers are woven into curtains and tents, using wind and sound vibrations to convert them into electric energy.

However, the latest and the most recent advancement, are harnessing solar energy to make clothes self-generators of power. Solar fabrics for innovation, involve creating clothes by two methods. One is printing solar cells on to clothes directly and the other is weaving solar technology into the fabrics.


The printing technique enables printing of photovoltaic cells on a fabric, which look like a series of colored small rectangles. Photovoltaic harvesting makes the process completely and thoroughly wireless. The use of Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC) has alleviated the functioning of clothes as power systems to altogether a new level. A molecular dye that absorbs sunlight, just like the chlorophyll functions in plants is used. The print is light, foldable, and becomes one with the cloth. But the efficiency of printed solar technology is only 1%. Researchers, who developed this technology, are working on ways to increase its competence.


The other method uses fibre optic solar cells that are made from flexible glass. These fibres are a result of injection with a silicon composition under extremely high pressure. The optical fibres appear to be thinner than hair, and can be woven into fabrics to design wearable power generated clothes.


Another group of researchers have gone a step ahead and developed a technology that uses photovoltaic and piezoelectric materials, to develop garments, which can charge phones and music players. This hybrid between the two will let the wearer be equipped with power even on days when the sun is not shining, by using wind or rain energy. All these technologies use either batteries or tiny capacitors to store and source power from.


The idea of charging your phone through not just power charged clothes but also in a sustainable way may seem very ideal. But there are a few obstacles that these technologies need to overcome successfully. The clothes developed with any of these technologies must be washable, wearable, flexible, comfortable, able to withstand wear and tear, skin-friendly, able to stay harmless to the body, and at the same time be affordable. Once all of it is achieved, clothes will definitely turn into power generators.


Hence with clothes soon getting multi-functional, charging cell phones, music players, and other electronic devices with chargers will soon become a thing of the past. Electronic devices are being designed in a way that save battery, scavenging energy from human body and solar energy, and integrating it into wearable technology will also address the environmental issues. The independence of having steady power supply and wireless charging, all done from the clothes an individual is wearing, are undoubtedly going to be the future of textiles.


References:


1.      Ntcresearch.org

2.      Gtresearchnews.gatech.edu

3.      Bolton.ac.uk

4.      Treehugger.com

5.      Psfk.com