All-Liquid Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Energy Harvesting and Self-Powered Device
Overview
Based on the systematic investigation of liquid-liquid contact electrification mechanisms in various liquid-liquid systems, we proposes a designing rule for all-liquid triboelectric nanogenerator. Guided by this designing rule, a rainwater-based all-liquid triboelectric nanogenerator is demonstrated with optimized materials and structures to harvest energy from rainwater.
Commercialisation opportunities
Co-development, technology licensing
Problem addressed
We proposed a designing rule of all-liquid triboelectric nanogenerator with theoretical guidance. It will realize a new option of green energy or distrubuted energy for the area beyond the coverage of power grid. Especially for the areas with long rainy seasons or abundant water resources, it is expected to offer an alternative source of energy.
Innovation
- Based on liquid-liquid contact electrification, the rainwater droplet can be positively charged in oil phase while its generation and movement process will generate induced current on the electrode ring.
- This work proposed the designing rule for all-liquid triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) for the first time. Compared with other reported all-liquid triboelectric nanogenerator, our demonstrated rainwater-based all-liquid triboelectric nanogenerator can generate a higher charge density (up to 3.63 μC/L) with a higher output stability (i.e. a lower crest factor ≈ 1.1), showing the advantage of our designing rules.
- Based on the direct current characteristics, energy harvested from rainwater can be fed directly to electronic devices and a self-powered rainfall sensor can also be implemented.
Key impact
- Most triboelectric nanogenerators depends on contact electrification between solid-solid or solid-liquid, and only few studies have reported all-liquid triboelectric nanogenerator. Our work represents the first systematic investigation of contact electrification mechanisms in various liquid-liquid systems and the optimization of all-liquid systems for harvesting energy from nature based on it.
Application
- a wide range of applications of all-liquid systems in the areas of energy harvesting, self-powered devices, and flexible power supplies, overturning the perception of traditional solid material-based electronic devices.
Patent
- Patent Pending
Advanced Biomedical Instrumentation Centre
Biomedical instrumentation plays a critical and increasing role, albeit invisible to most people, in the healthcare industry by enabling more accurate diagnoses, effective treatments, and earlier intervention and prevention capabilities. Advancing the development of cutting-edge medical devices, actuators and sensors requires collaboration among talented scientists, engineers and clinicians, as well as an environment that facilitates the commercialisation of research results into real-world applications that are accessible to a broader population.
The mission of the Advanced Biomedical Instrumentation Centre is to accelerate progress in translating advanced biomedical instrumentation from research and development into real-world healthcare solutions that benefit people in Hong Kong and around the world. The Centre aims to foster collaboration among top-notch engineers, scientists and clinicians in the US and Hong Kong to develop next-generation microfluidics and low-cost instrumentation technologies. It also takes advantage of Hong Kong’ s vibrant start-up community to commercialise the research work tailored for Asian patients.
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