Capacitors in Wearable Tech: Powering the Future of Fashion

Over the past few years, wearable technology has grown into a global research initiative. A wide range of wearable devices have hit the market. This includes healthcare devices, GPS-enhanced wearables, smart watches, internet-cable sensors, and glasses with a heads-up display.

All of these devices are regarded as part of the Internet of Wearable Things, which is also a subset of the Internet of Things. It basically describes a new set of devices with machine-to-machine communication capabilities. In this article, you will learn about the electronic components of wearable tech, the implementation of these technologies, and how they power the future of fashion. Continue reading for more. 

What is Wearable Tech?

Wearable tech describes intelligent devices that are attached to the surface of the skin to detect data, analyze it, and transfer it to vital systems. One example that is currently on the market is sensor-integrated apparel that features energy harvesters, antennas, and sensors. This innovation also facilitates the creation of self-reliant wearable devices for health monitoring, sensing, and communication. There are currently over a thousand wearable devices on the market today. Some of these devices are from popular brands like Apple and Samsung smartwatches that feature health and fitness trackers. Another example is the integrated sensors in apparel produced by Adidas and Nike. 

Electronic Components of Wearable Tech

Wearable techs are mostly flexible electronic devices that are designed with a range of amazing features. This includes durability at high strain or temperature, scalability at low cost, and flexibility that allows use on living organisms. 

Here are some of the main components of these devices to note:

Transistors

This is a key unit of electronics, and it’s basically an electronic device with terminals, which are the drain terminal, gate terminal, and source terminal. The gate terminal is usually isolated on the source and drain terminals, and this is with an insulating dielectric to prevent current from flowing to the terminals. A semiconductor is used in connecting the drain and source terminals. 

The main function of transistors is to act as both an amplifier to boost electric current and as a switch to control the flow of current. This enhances control over the circuits. 

Displays

Wearable devices also have displays like that of a phone screen. The outer layer of these displacements is made from aluminosilicate glass materials, while the middle layer features electronic capacitors. These capacitors provide sensitivity to detect finger disturbances on the screen. The inner layer features a network of LEDs which is modulated by an LCD. 

It’s worth noting that LEDs are also semiconductor diodes designed with doped silicon. This design allows for the emission of light following electric current stimulation. All the layers in the display work together to produce exquisite visuals on the device. 

Power Sources

There are three power sources that are used in producing wearing devices. The three sources include the following:

• Capacitors: Capacitors help in storing energy between electrodes that are separated by an electrical insulator or dielectric. This separation is to prevent the flow of charge between the two electrodes, which can cause energy build-up. It’s important to note that capacitors also have the ability to release energy, even with their low density. The charge storage limit of a capacitor is the capacitance. 
• Supercapacitors: They make up the intermediate between the batteries and the capacitors. Supercapacitors usually have about 100,000 times the capacitance of a normal capacitor, and this also allows them to charge a lot faster than rechargeable batteries. Also, they come in different sizes and shapes, depending on the device you use. Pseudocapacitors can electrochemically store energy like a battery, while electrical double-layer capacitors electrostatically store energy like a capacitor. The hybrid supercapacitors are a mix of both types.  The general belief among many scientists today is that supercapacitors will be able to replace batteries completely in the near future. 
• Batteries: When it comes to charge density, batteries are king. This is because they can store electrical energy as chemical potential energy. Therefore, the electrons within the battery can move between the anodes and cathodes. Also, there are rechargeable batteries which are based on reversible reactions. Examples of these batteries are the lithium-ion batteries in mobile devices. 

These three power source technologies are widely used in most electronic devices. For them to become widely accessible in wearable technologies, the electrolytes and electrodes for their components should be produced from polymeric and organic materials.  Interestingly, a lot has already been done in this field. For instance, carbon nanomaterials are effective for use as charge storage devices because of their high surface area and conductivity. They are also now used as electrodes in many batteries today. 

A Glimpse into the Future

In this article, we have highlighted the various applications of innovative materials used in wearable technology today. However, their application in prosthetics is yet to be fully explored. However, in modern days, research now focuses on developing a wide range of textiles with sensors to effectively monitor body functions. One of the major challenges with most wearable devices today is the need for large-scale fabrications to meet requirements for power in integrated technologies. Another challenge is developing a textile unit with a device and energy storage. Making cost-effective wearable technologies without compromising on quality and performance is another challenge that is currently faced. The good thing is that there are a couple of research groups that have shown prototypes within this area. In the field of science, the future will always look bright, even though there is still much work to be done and many challenges to face. There are also groups that have demonstrated the possibility of creating energy storage for wearable technologies with the aid of industrial machinery. 

Conclusion

Capacitors and supercapacitors offer multiple possibilities for wearable technologies, despite the challenges faced in their production. However, because of the ability to miniaturize these devices without altering transfer rates and energy storage capacity creates room for improvement and adoption as a non-voltage and eco-friendly energy storage source.