Introduction
Fig. 1 Platform technologies for self-powered biomonitoring textiles. For self-powered biomechanical sensing, we have systematically introduced PENGs, TENGs and MEGs. The TEGs and BFCs are introduced for self-powered boy temperature and biochemical sensing, respectively. This review provides a critical analysis of the current advances in smart textiles working in the self-powered manner and the insights into remaining challenges and future directions, paving a compelling road to personalized healthcare |
Self-powered biomechanical activities monitoring
Piezoelectric effect
Fig. 2 Self-powered biomechanical monitoring textiles based on piezoelectric effect. a Wearable PVDF/BTO piezoelectric sensing textile based on circular knitted fiber energy generators, which make the textile more durable and tough (scale bar, 5 mm). b The waveform of the voltage generated by bending the woven textile at the knee joint during walking and running. c The voltages generated when the knee joint was flexed to 0, 45, and 90 degrees [45]. Copyright (2020) WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. d Schematic illustration of muscle fiber inspired piezoelectric (MFP) bilaterally laminated assembled textiles for biomedical monitoring. Sensing performance of MFP textiles: e single-shot static and dynamic pulse wave motion analysis and f dynamic output voltage curves when different words like "Hi", "OK", and "sensor" are spoken [64]. Copyright (2021) WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. g The acoustic textile of high-modulus Twaron yarns and cotton yarns arranged at right angles and woven with single-strand piezoelectric elastic fiber transducers. h The chest textile can monitor heart sounds, providing heart rate and the S1 and S2 components of heart sounds. i Two pieces of textiles can act as microphones and speakers for acoustic communication [25]. Copyright (2020) Springer Nature |
Triboelectric effect
Fig. 3 Self-powered biomechanical monitoring textiles based on triboelectric effect. a Photograph of the single-layered ultra-softsmart textile (scale bar, 10 cm) [93]. Copyright (2020) Elsevier. (b) Schematic illustration of textile-based sensor and (c) OSAHS patient pulse measurement wave signal [47]. Copyright (2020) Elsevier. d Schematic of triboelectric textile sensor and e schematic for cardiovascular atherosclerosis progression process (I-VI). f ISC performance of the textile friction sensor under stationary, moving, and wet conditions [48]. Copyright (2021) WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. g Design of a triboelectric textile sensor network mask for respiration monitoring. h Schematic diagram of the mask sensor network model and pressure distribution inside the mask. i Phase shift and voltage curves of five channels in the sensor network [94]. Copyright (2022) WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co |
Magnetoelastic effect
Fig. 4 Self-powered biomechanical monitoring textiles based on magnetoelastic effect. a Textile MEG assembled from conductive yarn, soft magnetoelastic film, and textile substrate. b MEG textile monitoring three different breathing patterns: normal breathing, rapid breathing, and coughing. c Photographs of MEG textile and custom APP [41]. Copyright (2021) Elsevier. d Schematic diagram of the interlacing MEG textile. e Photograph of a textile wristband used as a pulse sensor (scale bar, 2 cm). f Schematic illustration of the working principle of the pulse monitoring MEG textile. g Waveforms of the pulse monitoring wristband in sweat and water for one heartbeat cycle, the shaded area identifies the standard deviation of the five waveform results. h Building a personalized healthcare database: uploading data to cloud for data-driven diagnosis [42]. Copyright (2021) Springer Nature |
Self-powered body temperature monitoring
Textile substrate
Fig. 5 Self-powered body temperature monitoring textiles based on thermoelectric effect. a Schematic illustration of the screen-printed Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3 films on glass textile. Reproduced from [114] with permission of the Royal Society of Chemistry. b Temperature-sensing mechanism of thermoelectric textile. c Temperature response resolution of thermoelectric textile within 0.1 K [120]. Copyright (2020) American Chemical Society d Schematic of the continuously alternating extrusion process. e The flexible continuous TEG composed of alternating p/n-type fiber made from SWCNT. f TEG textile structure and its thermal energy harvesting schematic illustration in an out-of-plane direction. g Energy harvesting of a TEG textile attached to the arm at various states [30]. Copyright (2020) Springer Nature h Schematic illustration of prepared TE fibers, TE fibers wrapped with acrylic fibers, and TE loops. i The output voltage contrast of the two TEGs at various steady temperature differences given by Peltier elements [31]. Copyright (2020) Springer Nature |
Yarns as building blocks
Self-powered biochemical monitoring
Fig. 6 Self-powered biochemical monitoring textiles based on the biofuel cells (BFCs). a Schematic illustration of the structure and function of the BFC anode and cathode yarns, indicating the associated electron transfer processes and chemical transformations. b Photograph of woven textile BFC (scale bar, 500 μm) [43]. Copyright (2014) Springer Nature. c Stretchable self-powered textile-based sensor for the enzymatic reaction of lactate. d Mechanical resilience test with before (left) and during (right) multiplex deformations. e Voltage output values obtained from self-powered textiles. f The real-time biological signals monitored by the sock-based self-powered BFC sensor can be wirelessly read and recorded using a smartphone. Reproduced from [134] with permission of The Royal Society of Chemistry. g System diagram of the wearable energy microgrid, which consists of TENG, BFC, SC module, and ECD system. h Microgrid performance during actual motion. Power the ECD sensor during a 10-min workout followed by a 20-min rest. The voltage-time curves of the energy microgrid system when only BFC or TENG and both operate together are analyzed separately [125]. Copyright (2020) Springer Nature |
Energy harvesting textiles as power supply
Fig. 7 Energy harvesting/storage textiles as a sustainable power supply for self-powered biomonitoring. a Schematic illustration of all-solid hybrid energy harvesting textile mixed from TENG textile and photovoltaic textile. b A photograph of a piece of hybrid power textile mixed with wool fibers (scale bar, 1 cm). c The output power of hybrid textile as well as individual components on the load resistances [152]. Copyright (2016) Springer Nature. d Schematic illustration of a flexible ZIB-based TBAN. e A Photo of ZIB fiber with excellent flexibility (scale bar, 2 mm). f Textile-based wireless power transfer between the smartphone and ZIB fiber. g ZIB fiber maintains stable capacity output under different bending angles. The inset shows the bending and deformation of ZIB fibers under stress. Reproduced with permission from Ref. [153]. h Schematic illustration of the photo-rechargeable textile mixed from the textile-based solar cell and fiber battery. i The stable output performance of the photo-rechargeable textile under various environmental disturbances [154]. Copyright (2020) Elsevier |
Conclusion and perspectives
Fig. 8 Perspectives regarding self-powered biomonitoring textiles. Smart textiles can provide real-time, high quality, and continuous physiological monitoring. To further advance the field development, efforts from different directions are highly required, including materials innovation, advanced manufacturing technologies, stability and reliability, wearing comfort, system integration, regulatory consensus, and cross-field cooperation |

