IIT Guwahati and DGIST South Korea develop triboelectrification

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati and Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), South Korea, have developed ferromagnetic nanocomposites to be used 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.

Researchers have developed ferromagnetic metal and metal-oxide nanocomposites using a cost-effective mechanochemical reduction process in a high-energy planetary ball mill technique, and the biomechanical energy harvesting is demonstrated with the nanocomposites as positive triboelectric layers to elucidate the usage of the fabricated TENG in real-time applications its application. 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 categorised 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. Typically, the materials generating surface charges are synthesised using a metal or polymer counterpart as the matrix component. These materials are also expensive and require obscured synthesis routes. Therefore, the alternative method of using the composites directly, as a triboelectric layer synthesised via a cost-effective fabrication route, can essentially extend the application.

“The 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,” said Perumal Alagarsamy, department of Physics, IIT Guwahati.