journal article·2025-09

Smart Flexible Fabrics for Energy Storage, Self‐Heating, Energy Harvesting, and Self‐Powered Motion Sensing at Low Temperatures

Ping Yang, Xiangyu Chen, Jiyao Xu, Liyuan Yu, Jing Ge, Xiaoyu Yang, Jingshi Liu, Siyu Zhang, Fulai Zhao, Yiyu Feng, Zhong Lin Wang, Wei Feng

Advanced Functional Materials· Volume 35· Issue 38
Publisher page

Abstract

Abstract Energy harvesting and storage at extreme temperatures are significant challenges for flexible wearable devices. This study innovatively developed a dynamic‐bond‐cross–linked spinnable azopolymer‐based smart fabric (PAzo‐M/PVA, M = Mg, Ca, Zn) capable of photothermal energy storage, light‐induced self‐heating, mechanical energy harvesting, and self‐powered motion sensing under cold conditions, overcoming issues like low energy density and poor structural stability when azopolymers are combined with other fabrics via impregnation or spraying. PAzo‐Mg, operating without solvents, demonstrated high energy density (264.8 J g −1 ) and long‐term stability (14 days). Upon light excitation at −20 °C, this fabric achieved the highest temperature increase (9.3 °C) and sustained self‐heating for 45 minutes. A triboelectric nanogenerator based on this fabric achieved a maximum output power density of 3.43 W m −2 and demonstrated excellent durability (≈10 000 cycles) at −20 °C, with light‐induced trans/cis isomerization and dynamic bond formation/dissociation affected the electrical output, a phenomenon not previously reported. Moreover, a self‐powered motion sensor embedded with this fabric successfully detected subtle pulse variations during outdoor human activities at −18 to −21 °C. This smart fabric combines energy storage, self‐heating, and triboelectric power generation at low temperatures, providing a feasible solution for creating flexible wearable devices for complex environments.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials · Advanced Materials and Mechanics · Thermal Radiation and Cooling Technologies

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Institute of Advanced Technology and Equipment Beijing University of Chemical Technology Beijing 100029 China

Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100083 China

School of Materials Science and Engineering and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Composite and Functional Materials Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China

School of Materials Science and Engineering Shandong University of Technology Zibo 255000 China

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China · Beijing Nova Program · Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences · Chinese Academy of Sciences · Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities

References (74)

Show source-provided references
1. 10.1002/adma.20220976810.1002/adma.202209768 ↗
2. 10.1039/D4CS00286E10.1039/D4CS00286E ↗
3. 10.1016/j.cej.2021.12859610.1016/j.cej.2021.128596 ↗
4. 10.1039/D1TA02422A10.1039/D1TA02422A ↗
5. 10.1002/adfm.20180445610.1002/adfm.201804456 ↗
6. 10.1002/adma.20180107210.1002/adma.201801072 ↗
7. 10.1002/aenm.20170124310.1002/aenm.201701243 ↗
8. 10.1002/adma.20230640210.1002/adma.202306402 ↗
9. 10.1016/j.nanoen.2024.11021510.1016/j.nanoen.2024.110215 ↗
10. 10.1021/acsnano.4c0096710.1021/acsnano.4c00967 ↗
11. 10.1002/adfm.20240098710.1002/adfm.202400987 ↗
12. 10.1016/j.jmst.2024.08.04710.1016/j.jmst.2024.08.047 ↗
13. 10.1016/j.cej.2024.15497010.1016/j.cej.2024.154970 ↗
14. 10.1126/science.adj365410.1126/science.adj3654 ↗
15. 10.1016/j.apenergy.2023.12197310.1016/j.apenergy.2023.121973 ↗
16. 10.1016/j.cej.2020.12544110.1016/j.cej.2020.125441 ↗
17. 10.1126/science.adj801310.1126/science.adj8013 ↗
18. 10.1016/j.joule.2021.03.01910.1016/j.joule.2021.03.019 ↗
19. 10.1038/s41893-023-01200-x10.1038/s41893-023-01200-x ↗
20. Jiang S. · J. Mater. Chem. A. · 2024 · 12
21. 10.1002/adfm.20241226110.1002/adfm.202412261 ↗
22. Sun Y. · Adv. Mater. · 2022 · 7
23. 10.1016/j.mtphys.2021.10034210.1016/j.mtphys.2021.100342 ↗
24. 10.1002/adfm.20241336110.1002/adfm.202413361 ↗
25. 10.1039/C8EE01011K10.1039/C8EE01011K ↗
26. 10.1016/j.cej.2021.12963710.1016/j.cej.2021.129637 ↗
27. 10.1002/anie.20211252010.1002/anie.202112520 ↗
28. 10.1126/sciadv.aas989410.1126/sciadv.aas9894 ↗
29. 10.1002/cey2.33110.1002/cey2.331 ↗
30. 10.1016/j.est.2023.11018010.1016/j.est.2023.110180 ↗
31. 10.1038/s41467-023-43772-410.1038/s41467-023-43772-4 ↗
32. 10.1016/j.enchem.2022.10007110.1016/j.enchem.2022.100071 ↗
33. 10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2023.10178210.1016/j.progpolymsci.2023.101782 ↗
34. 10.1021/acs.macromol.9b0038410.1021/acs.macromol.9b00384 ↗
35. 10.1002/aenm.20160162210.1002/aenm.201601622 ↗
36. 10.1002/aenm.20150200610.1002/aenm.201502006 ↗
37. 10.1021/acsami.3c0463110.1021/acsami.3c04631 ↗
38. 10.1016/j.cej.2023.14317510.1016/j.cej.2023.143175 ↗
39. 10.1007/s42765-023-00264-w10.1007/s42765-023-00264-w ↗
40. 10.1021/acsami.6b0803410.1021/acsami.6b08034 ↗
41. 10.1002/adma.20220004210.1002/adma.202200042 ↗
42. 10.1039/D3EE00695F10.1039/D3EE00695F ↗
43. 10.1016/j.nanoen.2021.10666810.1016/j.nanoen.2021.106668 ↗
44. 10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.10551910.1016/j.nanoen.2020.105519 ↗
45. 10.1002/adma.20190203410.1002/adma.201902034 ↗
46. 10.1038/s41467-024-54980-x10.1038/s41467-024-54980-x ↗
47. 10.1126/sciadv.adr913910.1126/sciadv.adr9139 ↗
48. 10.1007/s40820-023-01238-810.1007/s40820-023-01238-8 ↗
49. 10.1038/s43586-023-00220-310.1038/s43586-023-00220-3 ↗
50. 10.1002/adma.20190254910.1002/adma.201902549 ↗
51. 10.1039/D0EE02777D10.1039/D0EE02777D ↗
52. 10.1002/aenm.20160104810.1002/aenm.201601048 ↗
53. 10.1021/acsnano.4c0832410.1021/acsnano.4c08324 ↗
54. 10.1016/j.cej.2023.14380010.1016/j.cej.2023.143800 ↗
55. 10.1002/smm2.130010.1002/smm2.1300 ↗
56. 10.1002/advs.20220165710.1002/advs.202201657 ↗
57. 10.1007/s42765-021-00080-010.1007/s42765-021-00080-0 ↗
58. 10.1016/j.porgcoat.2021.10663410.1016/j.porgcoat.2021.106634 ↗
59. 10.1002/adfm.20210391710.1002/adfm.202103917 ↗
60. 10.1002/anie.20141018410.1002/anie.201410184 ↗
61. Han G. D. · J. Mater. Chem. A. · 2016 · 4
62. 10.1016/j.est.2023.10855110.1016/j.est.2023.108551 ↗
63. 10.1002/aenm.20150200610.1002/aenm.201502006 ↗
64. 10.1002/aenm.20190136310.1002/aenm.201901363 ↗
65. 10.1002/smll.20240431010.1002/smll.202404310 ↗
66. 10.1002/adfm.20110192210.1002/adfm.201101922 ↗
67. 10.1002/eom2.1233710.1002/eom2.12337 ↗
68. 10.1016/j.nanoen.2019.10401210.1016/j.nanoen.2019.104012 ↗
69. 10.1039/D4EE02662D10.1039/D4EE02662D ↗
70. 10.1007/s40820-022-00858-w10.1007/s40820-022-00858-w ↗
71. 10.1002/aenm.20170124310.1002/aenm.201701243 ↗
72. 10.1002/adfm.20230480910.1002/adfm.202304809 ↗
73. 10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.12.01110.1016/j.tibtech.2020.12.011 ↗
74. 10.1038/s41467-023-40763-310.1038/s41467-023-40763-3 ↗