Continuous triboelectric fiber for energy-harvesting smart
This technology is a manufacturing process for making triboelectric fibers — thin wires coated with specialized plastics that generate small electrical charges when rubbed or moved against other materials. The process runs a metal wire through a heated tube made of polypropylene wrapped in acrylic film, which melts and bonds around the wire at precise temperatures. The key breakthrough is that this process can produce fibers long enough to work on industrial-scale looms, meaning the fibers can be woven directly into fabrics. Those fabrics can then harvest energy from body motion or detect pressure and touch without any external electronics embedded in the garment.
What you could build
Smart textiles that self-power sensors or generate electricity from movement — sold to activewear brands, medical wearable makers, or military gear suppliers who want garments that monitor the wearer or harvest body energy without batteries.
Who in Virginia should care
Defense contractors and government labs in Northern Virginia and the Quantico corridor with interest in soldier-worn sensing and energy-harvesting gear would be natural early adopters.
Readiness: Prototype likely
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Ziang FENG, Shuo YANG, Anbo WANG, Xiaoting JIA, Lei ZUO, Li YU
- Granted
- March 24, 2026
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 12583165
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.