IIT Guwahati, DGIST South Korea develop energy harvesting device

It provides ways to utilize the ferromagnetic metal and metal-oxide nanocomposites as a positive triboelectric layer, suitable for energy harvesting device applications in daily life

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, and Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), South Korea, have developed ferromagnetic nanocomposites to be utilized as a positive triboelectric layer in triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) suitable for energy harvesting device applications to harvest biomechanical energy from breathing (inhale and exhale) during standing, sitting, and bending positions.

Considering the abundant biomechanical energy in our daily life and its ubiquitous nature produced during human activities, the fabricated TENG device helps harvest the biomechanical energy to power up low-power electronics.

The limited recycling process of batteries used in various electronic devices in today’s world causes a severe disbalance in the ecosystem due to the release of toxic materials and waste disposals, which eventually leads to global warming. Thus, it is essential to develop clean, green, and sustainable power resources befitting suitable alternatives to reduce the damage caused by batteries.

With this connection, the energy conversion devices like nanogenerators could effectively harness idle energy from wind, water waves, and biomechanical energy. The nanogenerators are generally categorized into electromagnetic, piezoelectric, pyroelectric, triboelectric, etc., depending on the energy conversion functionality and functionality with many applications like bio-robotics, defense, wearable electronics, micro-electro-mechanical systems, nano-electro-mechanical systems, etc.

Among these systems, the triboelectric nanogenerator has emerged as an eco-friendly energy harvester for self-powered applications, in which the triboelectrification is responsible for generating the surface charges when two surfaces exhibiting different work functions come in contact or friction with each other.

Perumal Alagarsamy, Department of Physics, IIT Guwahati says, “The above results confirm the exploitation of ferromagnetic nanocomposites as positive triboelectric layers and the extension of triboelectric series. Furthermore, considering the large change in the magnetic properties of the nanocomposite upon applying the applied magnetic field may improve the TENG power output performance, which is currently under investigation for further improvement.”

Read more:

• State cabinet approves setting up National Law University Tripura
• Bihar Mining Corp's law officers recruitment; Patna HC issues notice