Plasma-enhanced electronic textiles for energy harvesting

Abstract

Electrostatic energy harvesting and storage technologies for next-generation wearable devices are typically constrained by slow carrier dynamics and dielectric polarization delays. Here, we developed a plasma-enabled energy textile (PEET) by emulating the carrier transport mechanism in lightning return strokes. By engineering plasma-treated discharge microchannels, our design enables direct conduction current generation through cascading ionization, overcoming the efficiency limitations of conventional polarization-dependent systems. Under 2-hertz mechanical excitation, the PEET achieves a current density of 2.5 amperes per square centimeter, an average power output of 4.46 watts per square meter per hertz, and an energy conversion efficiency of 19%—two orders of magnitude higher than conventional electrostatic energy harvesting technologies, e.g., triboelectric, piezoelectric, and capacitive systems. This work represents a transformative advance in electrostatic energy harvesting, enabling efficient and scalable wearable energy solutions.