Self‐Sustainable Wearable Textile Nano‐Energy Nano‐System (NENS) for Next‐Generation Healthcare Applications

Wearable electronics presage a future in which healthcare monitoring and rehabilitation are enabled beyond the limitation of hospitals, and self‐powered sensors and energy generators are key prerequisites for a self‐sustainable wearable system. A triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) based on textiles can be an optimal option for scavenging low‐frequency and irregular waste energy from body motions as a power source for self‐sustainable systems. However, the low output of most textile‐based TENGs (T‐TENGs) has hindered its way toward practical applications. In this work, a facile and universal strategy to enhance the triboelectric output is proposed by integration of a narrow‐gap TENG textile with a high‐voltage diode and a textile‐based switch. The closed‐loop current of the diode‐enhanced textile‐based TENG (D‐T‐TENG) can be increased by 25 times. The soft, flexible, and thin characteristics of the D‐T‐TENG enable a moderate output even as it is randomly scrunched. Furthermore, the enhanced current can directly stimulate rat muscle and nerve. In addition, the capability of the D‐T‐TENG as a practical power source for wearable sensors is demonstrated by powering Bluetooth sensors embedded to clothes for humidity and temperature sensing. Looking forward, the D‐T‐TENG renders an effective approach toward a self‐sustainable wearable textile nano‐energy nano‐system for next‐generation healthcare applications.