Textile-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Smart Wearable Systems: Comfort, Integration, and Application

Textile-based triboelectric nanogenerators (t-TENGs) possess the unique wearability characteristics of fabrics. The advent of t-TENGs not only broadens the development direction of new materials in the textile industry but also endows TENGs with greater application potential. However, the electrical output and desired comfort properties of t-TENGs remain limited and impractical. Important progress has been made in the exploitation of t-TENGs in recent years. In this review, the basic classifications of comfort, including sensorial and tactile comfort, fit comfort, heat–moisture comfort, and appearance aesthetics, are introduced. Combining the wearability of textiles, the recent progress in the development of comfortable t-TENGs is systematically summarized and discussed from the following aspects: tactile comfort of t-TENGs, stretchability of t-TENGs, breathability of t-TENGs, washability of t-TENGs, aesthetics of t-TENGs, and multifunctionality of t-TENGs. Additionally, the enhanced output performance, power management, integration strategies, and mass production of t-TENGs are discussed, and the main applications of wearable t-TENGs are described. Finally, the existing challenges and future research direction of t-TENGs are presented, which may contribute to promoting further research and applications of wearable t-TENGs.