Standards Development

Scope

This part of IEC 63203-20X-X specifies terms and configuration for fabric based triboelectric generators, and measurement methods to determine and characterize the power generation performance of fab ric generators under different modes. The test methods proposed here are only applicable to a textile generator where a single or multi layers of fabric are directly used as a dielectric material and/or just acts as substrate. The test methods proposed here are not applicable to nonwoven, raised or pile fabric structure that are used as a dielectric layer.

Purpose

Textile based triboelectric generators are found to be an alternative and promising proposal for converting human motion into electricity. Though IEC has standardized two standards, IEC62830 -6:2019 and IEC62830- 7:2021, respectively for vertical contact and linear sliding modes for two different dielectric surfaces. Both these standards are not suitable to evaluate a fabric based triboelectric generator which primarily undergoes tensile, bending or shear strains during body movements.

Existing methods for tribo-generators are primarily recommended for a thin film or rigid substrates which are isotropic in nature. On the other hand, the fabric has anisotropic characteristics, and it allows the relative displacement of yarns within its structure. Several factors including the size, the load, the loading direction, the speed, etc., could significantly affect performance results. Many of such areas cannot be covered by existing evaluation methods for tribo generators based on the same principle.

In the view of above scenario, it is felt important to define different fabric based triboelectric generators and establishing new standard for their proper evaluation of energy harvesting characteristics under different modes. This would be a significant step forward in the development of wearable electronics.