Self-powered magnetoelastic tents for sustainable energy access in unhoused communities.

Access to reliable, clean energy remains a major challenge for the unhoused and off-grid communities. Here, we introduce a self-powered magnetoelastic tent that leverages the giant magnetoelastic effect to harvest energy from human motion and environmental stimuli. The smart tent integrates magnetoelastic textiles, consisting of a magnetomechanical coupling layer and a magnetic induction layer, converting mechanical motion into electricity. Optimizing weaving patterns, layer stacking, and conductive fiber turns enables robust energy generation, with a representative magnetoelastic textile unit delivering a maximum instantaneous power of 0.094 mW, stable operation over 12,000 continuous cycles, and intrinsic waterproof performance. Simple hand tapping can charge a 0.22-μF capacitor to 5.80 V within 1.5 s, providing sufficient power for small electronics. Lightweight, recyclable, and weather resistant, the tents maintain stable performance under representative outdoor conditions. This work presents a scalable platform for sustainable, decentralized energy harvesting to expand supplementary energy access in temporary shelter settings.