Nanogenerator 'scavenges' power from their surroundings

Date:
October 21, 2020
Source:
Flinders University
Summary:
Imagine a mobile phone charger that doesn't need a wireless or
mains power source. Or a pacemaker with inbuilt organic energy
sources within the human body. Researchers are picking up the
challenge of 'scavenging' invisible power from low-frequency
vibrations in the surrounding environment, including wind, air or
even contact-separation energy (static electricity).



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Imagine a mobile phone charger that doesn't need a wireless or mains
power source. Or a pacemaker with inbuilt organic energy sources within
the human body.


========================================================================== Australian researchers led by Flinders University are picking up
the challenge of 'scavenging' invisible power from low-frequency
vibrations in the surrounding environment, including wind, air or even contact-separation energy (static electricity).

"These so-called triboelectric nanogenerators (or 'TENGs') can be
made at low cost in different configurations, making them suitable for
driving small electronics such as personal electronics (mobile phones), biomechanics devices (pacemakers), sensors (temperature/pressure/chemical sensors), and more," says Professor Youhong Tang, from Flinders
University's College of Science and Engineering.

Further research aims to further develop this renewable form of energy harvesting by designing simple fabrication from cheap and sustainable materials, with high efficiency.

"They can use non-invasive materials, so could one day be used for
implantable and wearable energy harvesting aims," says PhD candidate
Mohammad Khorsand, co- lead author on recent papers in international
journal Nano Energy.

The latest paper uses AI-enhanced mathematical modelling to compare the function of the number of segments, rotational speed and tribo-surface
spacing of an advanced TENG prototype to optimise the storage and
performance.

The researchers, with colleagues at the University of Technology Sydney
and elsewhere, are working to improve power generation of TENGs and
store the generated power on supercapacitor or battery.

"We have been able to effectively harvest power from sliding movement and rotary motion which are abundantly available in our living environment,"
says Professor Tang.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Flinders_University. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Mohammad Khorsand, Javad Tavakoli, Haowen Guan, Youhong
Tang. Artificial
intelligence enhanced mathematical modeling on rotary
triboelectric nanogenerators under various kinematic and
geometric conditions. Nano Energy, 2020; 75: 104993 DOI:
10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.104993 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201021112331.htm

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