Is there clothing that can generate or store energy?

Fashion protects us from the elements and allows us to express ourselves to society. Now, science and technology have turned their attention to traditional garments, transforming them into innovative tools capable of generating electricity and even monitoring our health

Advances in clothing that can generate and store energy have been rapidly increasing in recent years. Fibers and materials are the focus of university research that offers hope for garments that, if they become popular, will help us obtain more sources of electricity.

A team of scientists at Johns Hopkins University in the United States has taken a key step in this direction with the recent publication of a study in Advanced Material Technologies, where they presented an innovative method for large-scale manufacturing fibers with solar-powered batteries. These batteries are composed of flat strips of electrodes and a polymer separator that are fed into a press and laminated. A laser then cuts these sheets into strands about 700 micrometers wide, roughly the thickness of five human hairs. According to Jason Tiffany, co-author of the article, the process is surprisingly efficient: 100 meters of fiber can be processed in just over five hours. 

This is not the only amazing project that Johns Hopkins researchers have worked on. In another article, the same team talked about a scalable system for manufacturing fibers capable of capturing light and converting it into electricity.

Inspired by how photoelectric cells work, scientists cut solar cells into tiny pieces, assembled them on thin, flexible circuit boards, sealed them with a protective polymer, and created strands similar to textile fibers. To test their creation, they used a mini loom made especially for this purpose to weave nylon fibers and solar cells together. The resulting strip was placed under a lamp and connected to a circuit board and a flashing LED. Within seconds, the LED light flickered, demonstrating the potential of these fibers to generate electricity from light. 

Fibers that store energy, clothing that keeps you warm

One of the most notable uses for garments made with this type of fiber is in manufacturing warm clothing. Research is also being conducted to determine whether these garments can regulate body temperature.

In 2024, a team of Canadian and Chinese scientists unveiled a fiber capable of heating up to 30°C after 10 minutes of exposure to the sun. This breakthrough would make it possible to manufacture clothing that maintains body heat in extremely cold conditions. This material incorporates nanoparticles that absorb sunlight and convert it into heat, as well as heat-sensitive dyes that change color depending on the temperature, adding visual appeal to its thermal properties.

Furthermore, tradition in the textile industry is not incompatible with new tech when it comes to generating energy. Last year, researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden presented a silk thread coated with a conductive plastic material that generates electricity to power electronic devices and health sensors. According to tests, the conductive properties last for at least one year.

Clothing of the future: fabrics that capture energy from the human body

Meanwhile, scientists at the Korean Institute of Science and Technology announced in 2023 a fiber fabric that harnesses glucose from sweat and mechanical energy from body friction to generate electricity. Specifically, the fabric is outfitted with a triboelectric generator that transforms the mechanical energy of movement into electricity, and a perspiration-powered generator that produces electricity as sweat travels through the fibers. Thanks to this, the researchers were able to power a position-tracking sensor, which requires only three volts. It's a small but promising start. 

Other fields of research focus on accessories. Wearable technology has been connecting bodies and bits for years so that, for example, a smart watch counts the steps we take and monitors our heart rate and habits. In this regard, a project of Spanish researchers analyzed a smartwatch that recharges itself with the energy from the wearer.

The clothing of the future will not only set trends and protect us from the elements but will also actively contribute to the generation of sustainable energy. In this way, each person will be able to become a small mobile source of renewable energy, demonstrating that design and technology can go hand in hand to build a more efficient and environmentally friendly future.