Photo-Rechargeable Fabrics as Sustainable and Robust Power Sources for Wearable Bioelectronics

Smart textiles for electricity generation are a superior energy solution with greatly improved convenience and comfort for wearable bioelectronics. However, maintaining the sustainability and stability of the power supply, though highly desirable, remains a great challenge. Here, we present a photo-rechargeable fabric with economically viable materials and scalable fabrication technologies. The fabric was able to constantly deliver electric power for 10 min at 0.1 mA after being charged for 1 min under the standard 1-sun condition. It can also work normally under twisted and watery circumstances and hold the stored energy for over 60 days without significant voltage loss. The photo-rechargeable fabric was demonstrated to power a body area sensor network for personalized healthcare.