Wearable Technologies in Energy Harvesting for Sustainable Power Generation in Smart Textiles

Purpose: Wearable textile electronics are vibrant for smart applications across various sectors like health, automotive, sports, industrial work wear, defence, and the military. A key challenge is integrating these smart textiles with external batteries, which are often replaced and recharged frequently due to inadequate power supply. The integration of energy harvesting methods, such as piezoelectric, triboelectric, thermoelectric, and solar systems, provides a sustainable solution. This review examines how energy generation and storage devices can be integrated into self-charging power structures to facilitate long-term energy storage. Methodology/Design: An Integrated review approach was utilised in this study to identify significant publications for an effective discussion of current material production techniques, innovations, and hybrid methods for harvesting ambient energy in wearable devices. Crucial issues regarding flexibility, energy efficiency, washability, and comfort are thoroughly discussed. Future directions are given for continuous research in this field. Findings: The study concludes that the successful advancement of wearable energy-harvesting textiles depends on integrating flexible energy-generation, storage, and sensing components into fabrics. It also underscores that interdisciplinary teamwork, textile engineering, and linking material science, nanotechnology, and electronics are essential for achieving comfortable, durable, and scalable smart textiles. This highlights that progress in hybrid energy systems, flexible materials, and textile-compatible fabrication is key to fully recognising self-powered wearable technologies. Practical and Social Implications: The review underscores innovations in harvesting ambient energy for wearable devices, thereby reducing reliance on batteries and promoting eco-conscious habits. It improves health monitoring with value-added comfort, washability, and durability, making devices more useful, especially for those with chronic illnesses and the elderly. These recent advances could boost employment in smart textiles and green tech, fostering research for more adaptable, inclusive, and energy-efficient wearables that meet modern and environmental needs. Originality: This study highlights recent advances in research on wearable energy harvesting in smart textiles, encompassing fabrication, hybrid methods, washability, and comfort. This promotes collaboration, user-focused, and innovative wearable technology.