Electrifying waste textiles: Transforming fabric scraps into high-performance triboelectric nanogenerators for biomechanical energy harvesting

Sebghatullah, Amini and Rumana Farheen Sagade Muktar Ahmed, Ahmed and Santosh, Kumar and Sangamesha Madanahalli, Ankanathappa and Krishnaveni, Sannathammegowda (2024) Electrifying waste textiles: Transforming fabric scraps into high-performance triboelectric nanogenerators for biomechanical energy harvesting. Waste Management, 190. 477 -485. ISSN 0956053X

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Abstract

Textiles are an integral part of daily life globally, but their widespread use leads to significant waste generation. Repurposing these discarded fabrics for energy harvesting offers a sustainable solution to both energy demand and textile waste management. In this study, Textile-based Triboelectric Nanogenerators (T-TENGs) were developed using recycled cloth as tribopositive layers and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film as the tribonegative layer, with aluminum foil tape serving as electrodes. Five different recycled textiles were evaluated, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) analysis revealed a correlation between yarn structure and carbon content, leading to enhanced triboelectric performance. Silk-based TENG (S-TENG) demonstrated the highest output, with 320.76 V and 8.73 µA, while exhibiting stable performance over 10,000 cycles. Practical applications were explored by integrating T-TENGs into shoe insoles for energy harvesting during walking and jumping, with rayon-based TENG generating up to 208.52 V on a PVC coil mat. This work highlights the dual benefits of waste reduction and sustainable energy applications, making a compelling case for advanced technologies where recycled textiles function as frictional materials to harvest mechanical energy from human motion and convert it into electrical energy for use in flexible sensors and wearable devices.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Energy harvesting; Self-powered devices; Textile fabrics; Triboelectric nanogenerators; Waste management; Wearable technology
Subjects:	D Physical Science > Physics
Divisions:	Department of > Physics
Depositing User:	Mr Eranna Library
Date Deposited:	24 Nov 2025 12:52
Last Modified:	24 Nov 2025 12:52
URI:	http://eprints.uni-mysore.ac.in/id/eprint/17977

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