Abstract: The integration of triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) technology and traditional textiles has brought new vitality and more application directions for intelligent textiles, in which the fabric electrode provides a conductive layer for TENGs. In recent years, the studies of TENGs mainly focus on electrode materials, friction materials and structural design, while the studies on conductive layers in the related research fields of spacer fabric TENGs are relatively few. It is helpful for the application of spacer fabric-based TENGs to prepare spacer fabric TENGs by referring to the construction method of fabric electrodes in common fabric-based TENGs.
Apart from the basic function of converting mechanical energy into electrical energy, the spacer fabric-based TENGs can also be used as a self-powered sensor in many directions, such as human motion detection, foot pressure sensing and gas monitoring. At present, in addition to conducting yarn weaving and dipping conductive materials to construct fabric electrodes, a relatively stable conductive layer can be formed on the fabric through physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, electroplating or electrodeless plating to be applied to TENGs, which provides some examples for the construction of suitable fabric electrodes for spacer fabric-based TENGs. However, the existing fabric electrodes of spacer fabric-based TENGs are mainly woven by dipping or conductive yarn weaving machines. Although they can effectively give the fabric a certain conductivity and achieve mass production, their conductive layer stability is greatly limited.
The output of the fabric-based TENGs is still at a low level. The charge density on the surface of the friction layer is an important factor that determines the performance of all TENGs. However, the charge collection and transmission of the electrode layer only need to be conductive to ensure a certain output. Therefore, most researchers often neglect the influence of the fabric electrode layer on the output. There is a potential resistance range in the fabric electrode layer, even if the conductivity is improved, the total amount of saturated stored charges cannot be changed, and the micro conductive path structure of the fabric that transmits charges also directly affects the output performance, which provides a theoretical basis for spacer fabric-based TENGs to improve the output so as to facilitate their practical application.
Based on the study of the conductive layer and special spacer fabric structure of fabric-based TENGs, we summarize the preparation methods of fabric electrodes and their application in the spacer fabric-based TENG, and discuss the potential difficulties and severe challenges of fabric electrodes hindering its output. It hoped that this review can not only deepen the connection between smart textiles and TENGs to a certain extent, but also provide some references for the relevant research and application of wearable TENGs in the future.

Key words: triboelectric nanogenerator, spacer fabric, fabric electrode, smart textile

摘要： 摩擦纳米发电机(TENG)技术与传统纺织品的融合,为智能纺织品带来了新的活力和更多的应用方向。然而基于纺织品的TENG输出仍处于较低的水平,织物结构上的导电层影响电荷传输可能是原因之一。本文从织物基摩擦纳米发电机的导电层和特殊间隔织物结构研究出发,综述了摩擦纳米发电机的织物电极的制备方法,以及其在间隔织物TENG的应用现状。在此基础上,讨论了织物电极阻碍其输出的潜在困难和严峻挑战。希望不仅能在一定程度上加深智能纺织品与TENG之间的联系,也能为未来可穿戴TENG的相关研究和应用提供一些参考。

关键词: 摩擦纳米发电机, 间隔织物, 织物电极, 智能纺织品