Nanogenerator Powered by Motion Could Enable Your Run to Charge Your Wearable Devices.
This exciting development may lead to nano-devices as effective as current solar cells.
The Advanced Technology Institute (ATI) in Surrey has engineered highly energy-efficient, flexible nanogenerators, showcasing a 140-fold escalation in power density compared to traditional nanogenerators. The researchers at ATI are of the opinion that this advancement may set the stage for nano-devices to match the efficiency of current solar cells.
Devices from Surrey have the ability to transform minimal amounts of ordinary mechanical energy, such as movement, into a remarkably larger quantity of electrical power. This process is analogous to how an amplifier enhances sound in an electronic setup. To illustrate, while a conventional nanogenerator might generate 10 milliwatts of power, this innovative technology has the potential to augment that output to more than 1,000 milliwatts. This makes it a fitting choice for energy collection in diverse everyday uses.
The nanogenerator from ATI operates similar to a relay race — rather than a single electrode (the runner) conveying energy (charge) solely. Each runner accumulates a baton (charge), augments it, and then hands all the batons to the subsequent runner, enhancing the total energy gathered via a phenomenon known as the charge regeneration effect.
Md Delowar Hussain, the main researcher of the study from the University of Surrey, stated: “The vision for nanogenerators is to harness and utilize energy from common motions, such as your daily jog, mechanical oscillations, sea waves or the act of opening a door. Our nanogenerator’s prime advancement is that we’ve meticulously refined the technology with 34 minuscule energy gatherers using a laser method that can be expanded for production to boost energy efficacy even more.
“It’s truly thrilling that our compact gadget with a high energy harvesting capacity could potentially compete with the power output of solar panels. This could be utilized for anything ranging from self-powered sensors to smart home systems that operate without ever requiring a battery replacement.”
The apparatus is a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) — a gadget that can harness and convert energy from routine, everyday actions into electricity. They operate by utilizing materials that get electrically charged upon contact and then separation — analogous to the phenomenon when you rub a balloon on your hair, causing it to adhere due to static electricity.
Dr Bhaskar Dudem, the study’s co-author from the University of Surrey, stated: “We are on the verge of starting a firm that concentrates on self-powered, non-invasive health sensors utilizing triboelectric technology. Such breakthroughs will facilitate us to propel fresh spin-off ventures in sustainable healthcare technology, enhance sensitivity, and underscore industrial scalability.”
Professor Ravi Silva, who is a co-author of the research and also the Director of the Advanced Technology Institute at the University of Surrey, stated: “As technology continues to rapidly evolve around us, it’s estimated that there will be over 50 billion Internet of Things (IoT) devices in the upcoming years, all of which require power. There is a need for local green energy solutions, and this could present a practical wireless technology that captures energy from any mechanical movement to power compact devices. This provides the scientific and engineering community a chance to discover innovative and sustainable answers to worldwide challenges.”
“We are incredibly thrilled about the capacity of these nanogenerators to revolutionize our perception of energy. One could also envision these devices being employed in IoT-based self-sustaining intelligent systems such as autonomous wireless functions, security surveillance, and intelligent home systems, or even in assisting dementia patients, a field where the University of Surrey possesses significant proficiency.” Read More
