A Machine‐Braided Flame‐Retardant Triboelectric Yarn/Textile for Fireproof Application

• Published in: Advanced materials technologies 2023-07, Vol.8 (13), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Cui, Xiuju, Li, An, Zheng, Zongni, Wu, Hanguang, Wang, Rui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: energy harvesting; flame retardancy; self‐powered sensors; smart textiles; triboelectric nanogenerators
• ISSN: 2365-709X; 2365-709X
• DOI: 10.1002/admt.202202116

With the rapid development of the textile‐based triboelectric nanogenerators (T‐TENGs), it is highly desired to create a simple and cheap fabrication strategy for the T‐TENGs with high flame‐retardant performances (FRT‐TENGs), which can present reliable electrical performance in the fire disaster. In this work, by covering the flame‐retardant polyethylene terephthalate filaments around the conductive fiber, a flame‐retardant triboelectric yarn is successfully developed through a simple and continuous high‐speed braiding process. The obtained composite yarns are further woven into an FRT‐TENG, which presents excellent comprehensive performances, including good energy harvesting ability, long‐term durability and washability, excellent flame retardancy, and high comfortability. The open‐circuit voltage (VOC) and short‐circuit current (ISC) can reach nearly 12 V and 0.36 µA, respectively. The FRT‐TENG shows a high limiting oxygen index value of 31.3% and self‐extinguishing behavior, and still presents high energy output performances after the burning, making it a perfect candidate for intelligent devices with high fireproof ability, such as the smart firefighter uniform and the intelligent carpet for escape direction indication. In this study, a flame‐retardant triboelectric yarn is developed through a continuous high‐speed braiding process, and then the obtained yarns are woven into a flame‐retardant textile‐based triboelectric nanogenerator (FRT‐TENG). The FRT‐TENG shows enhanced electrical performance and excellent flame retardancy, which is a perfect candidate for intelligent protective devices, including the smart firefighter uniform and the intelligent carpet for escape direction indication.