scholarly journals High-performance wearable thermoelectric generator with self-healing, recycling, and Lego-like reconfiguring capabilities

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. eabe0586
Author(s):  
Wei Ren ◽  
Yan Sun ◽  
Dongliang Zhao ◽  
Ablimit Aili ◽  
Shun Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Solar Irradiation ◽  
Self Healing ◽  
Wearable Electronics ◽  
Design Concepts ◽  
Electrical Wiring ◽  
Energy Harvesting Devices

Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) are an excellent candidate for powering wearable electronics and the “Internet of Things,” due to their capability of directly converting heat to electrical energy. Here, we report a high-performance wearable TEG with superior stretchability, self-healability, recyclability, and Lego-like reconfigurability, by combining modular thermoelectric chips, dynamic covalent polyimine, and flowable liquid-metal electrical wiring in a mechanical architecture design of “soft motherboard-rigid plugin modules.” A record-high open-circuit voltage among flexible TEGs is achieved, reaching 1 V/cm2 at a temperature difference of 95 K. Furthermore, this TEG is integrated with a wavelength-selective metamaterial film on the cold side, leading to greatly improved device performance under solar irradiation, which is critically important for wearable energy harvesting during outdoor activities. The optimal properties and design concepts of TEGs reported here can pave the way for delivering the next-generation high-performance, adaptable, customizable, durable, economical, and eco-friendly energy-harvesting devices with wide applications.

scholarly journals Studies on the electrostatic effects of stretched PVDF films and nanofibers

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yixuan Lin ◽  
Yuqiong Zhang ◽  
Fan Zhang ◽  
Meining Zhang ◽  
Dalong Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vinylidene Fluoride ◽  
Polarized Light ◽  
Transition Process ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Wearable Electronics ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Β Phase ◽  
Poly Vinylidene Fluoride ◽  
Piezoelectric Effects ◽  
Energy Harvesting Devices

AbstractThe electroactive β-phase in Poly (vinylidene fluoride, PVDF) is the most desirable conformation due to its highest pyro- and piezoelectric properties, which make it feasible to be used as flexible sensors, wearable electronics, and energy harvesters etc. In this study, we successfully developed a method to obtain high-content β-phase PVDF films and nanofiber meshes by mechanical stretching and electric spinning. The phase transition process and pyro- and piezoelectric effects of stretched films and nanofiber meshes were characterized by monitoring the polarized light microscopy (PLM) images, outputting currents and open-circuit voltages respectively, which were proved to be closely related to stretching ratio (λ) and concentrations. This study could expand a new route for the easy fabrication and wide application of PVDF films or fibers in wearable electronics, sensors, and energy harvesting devices.

An airtight-cavity-structural triboelectric nanogenerator-based insole for high performance biomechanical energy harvesting

Nanoscale ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (14) ◽  
pp. 6802-6809 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiming Lin ◽  
Yufen Wu ◽  
Qiang He ◽  
ChenChen Sun ◽  
Endong Fan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Triboelectric Nanogenerator ◽  
Wearable Electronics ◽  
Human Energy ◽  
High Output

A waterproof, high-output and airtight-cavity-airbag structural insole based on a TENG is presented to harvest human energy for driving wearable electronics.

Topology Optimization of Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Devices Subjected to Stochastic Excitation

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zheqi Lin ◽  
Hae Chang Gea ◽  
Shutian Liu
Keyword(s):  
Topology Optimization ◽  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Ambient Vibration ◽  
Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting ◽  
The Past ◽  
Piezoelectric Energy ◽  
Random Responses ◽  
Pseudo Excitation ◽  
Energy Harvesting Devices

Converting ambient vibration energy into electrical energy using piezoelectric energy harvester has attracted much interest in the past decades. In this paper, topology optimization is applied to design the optimal layout of the piezoelectric energy harvesting devices. The objective function is defined as to maximize the energy harvesting performance over a range of ambient vibration frequencies. Pseudo excitation method (PEM) is applied to analyze structural stationary random responses. Sensitivity analysis is derived by the adjoint method. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the validity of the proposed approach.

scholarly journals Ultrastable and High-Performance Silk Energy Harvesting Textiles

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Ye ◽  
Shaojun Dong ◽  
Jing Ren ◽  
Shengjie Ling
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Mechanical Energy ◽  
Wearable Electronics ◽  
High Power Output ◽  
Severe Change ◽  
Interactive Interfaces ◽  
Application Requirements ◽  
Intelligent Clothing

AbstractEnergy harvesting textiles (EHTs) have attracted much attention in wearable electronics and the internet-of-things for real-time mechanical energy harvesting associated with human activities. However, to satisfy practical application requirements, especially the demand for long-term use, it is challenging to construct an energy harvesting textile with elegant trade-off between mechanical and triboelectric performance. In this study, an energy harvesting textile was constructed using natural silk inspired hierarchical structural designs combined with rational material screening; this design strategy provides multiscale opportunities to optimize the mechanical and triboelectric performance of the final textile system. The resulting EHTs with traditional advantages of textiles showed good mechanical properties (tensile strength of 237 ± 13 MPa and toughness of 4.5 ± 0.4 MJ m−3 for single yarns), high power output (3.5 mW m−2), and excellent structural stability (99% conductivity maintained after 2.3 million multi-type cyclic deformations without severe change in appearance), exhibiting broad application prospects in integrated intelligent clothing, energy harvesting, and human-interactive interfaces.

Scavenging Energy From Piezoelectric Materials for Wireless Sensor Applications

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Green ◽  
Karla M. Mossi ◽  
Robert G. Bryant
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Wireless Sensors ◽  
Piezoelectric Materials ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Wireless Sensor ◽  
Battery Life ◽  
Sinusoidal Vibration ◽  
Sensor Applications ◽  
Energy Harvesting Devices

Wireless sensors are an emerging technology that has the potential to revolutionize the monitoring of simple and complex physical systems. Prior research has shown that one of the biggest issues with wireless sensors is power management. A wireless sensor is simply not cost effective unless it can maintain long battery life or harvest energy from another source. Piezoelectric materials are viable conversion mechanisms because of their inherent ability to covert vibrations to electrical energy. Currently a wide variety of piezoelectric materials are available and the appropriate choice for sensing, actuating, or harvesting energy depends on their characteristics and properties. This study focuses on evaluating and comparing three different types of piezoelectric materials as energy harvesting devices. The materials utilized consisted on PZT 5A, a single crystal PMN 32%PT, and a PZT 5A composite called Thunder. These materials were subjected to a steady sinusoidal vibration provided by a shaker at different power levels. Gain of the devices was measured at all levels as well as impedance in a range of frequencies was characterized. Results showed that the piezoelectric generator coefficient, g33, predicts the overall power output of the materials as verified by the experiments. These results constitute a baseline for an energy harvesting system that will become the front end of a wireless sensor network.

scholarly journals Numerical Analysis of an Active Thermomagnetic Device for Thermal Energy Harvesting

2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Makita R. Phillips ◽  
Gregory P. Carman
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Applied Field ◽  
Waste Heat ◽  
Thermal Conductance ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Thermal Energy Harvesting ◽  
Magnetic States ◽  
Energy Harvesting Devices

Abstract The abundance of low-grade waste heat necessitates energy harvesting devices to convert thermal energy to electrical energy. Through magnetic transduction, thermomagnetics can perform this conversion at reasonable efficiencies. Thermomagnetic materials use thermal energy to switch between magnetic and non-magnetic states and convert thermal energy into electrical energy. In this study, we numerically analyzed an active thermomagnetic device for thermal energy harvesting composed of gadolinium (Gd) and neodymium iron boron (NdFeB). A parametric study to determine the device efficiency was conducted by varying the gap distance, heat source temperature, and Gd thickness. Furthermore, the effect of the thermal conductance and applied field was also evaluated. It was found that the relative efficiency for smaller gap distances ranges from ∼15% to 28%; the largest allowable volume of Gd should be used and higher applied field leads to higher efficiencies.

Energy Harvesting Characteristics of Conical Shells

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Li ◽  
S. D. Hu ◽  
H. S. Tzou
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Conical Shell ◽  
Energy Harvester ◽  
Electric Energy ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Ambient Vibration ◽  
Circular Membrane ◽  
Shell Surface ◽  
Piezoelectric Energy

Piezoelectric energy harvesting has experienced significant growth over the past few years. Various harvesting structures have been proposed to convert ambient vibration energies to electrical energy. However, these harvester’s base structures are mostly beams and some plates. Shells have great potential to harvest more energy. This study aims to evaluate a piezoelectric coupled conical shell based energy harvester system. Piezoelectric patches are laminated on the conical shell surface to convert vibration energy to electric energy. An open-circuit output voltage of the conical energy harvester is derived based on the thin-shell theory and the Donnel-Mushtari-Valsov theory. The open-circuit voltage and its derived energy consists of four components respectively resulting from the meridional and circular membrane strains, as well as the meridional and circular bending strains. Reducing the surface of the harvester to infinite small gives the spatial energy distribution on the shell surface. Then, the distributed modal energy harvesting characteristics of the proposed PVDF/conical shell harvester are evaluated in case studies. The results show that, for each mode with unit modal amplitude, the distribution depends on the mode shape, harvester location, and geometric parameters. The regions with high strain outputs yield higher modal energies. Accordingly, optimal locations for the PVDF harvester can be defined. Also, when modal amplitudes are specified, the overall energy of the conical shell harvester can be calculated.

Piezoelectric boron nitride nanosheets for high performance energy harvesting devices

Nano Energy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 80 ◽  
pp. 105561
Author(s):  
Haoze Kuang ◽  
Yubo Li ◽  
Shuyi Huang ◽  
Lin Shi ◽  
Zheng Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Boron Nitride ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Boron Nitride Nanosheets ◽  
Energy Harvesting Devices

Manufacture and Experimental Investigation of a Multi-Layer Generator Based on Dielectric Elastomer

2014 ◽  
Vol 960-961 ◽  
pp. 1336-1341
Author(s):  
Xue Jing Liu ◽  
Gong Zhang ◽  
Yong Quan Wang ◽  
Shu Hai Jia
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Light Emitting Diode ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer ◽  
Maximum Energy ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Light Emitting ◽  
Energy Harvesting Efficiency ◽  
Open Circuit Condition ◽  
Constant Charge

As a member of Electroactive Polymers (EAPs), dielectric elastomer (DE) has shown considerable potential for energy harvesting applications. After the basic principle of DE energy harvesting is studied, a multi-layer DE generator using VHB 4910 (3M, USA) is specially designed and fabricated. Then, an improved energy harvesting circuit is designed to make use of harvested electrical energy. Finally, energy harvesting experiments are implemented under the constant charge (open-circuit) condition and the results prove that the multi-layer DE generator fabricated can produce enough energy to constantly drive a light emitting diode. The harvested electrical energy has good consistent with generated electrical energy and the maximum energy harvesting efficiency ηh can reach 89%.

Evaluation of Ring-Type Energy Harvesters

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. D. Hu ◽  
H. Li ◽  
H. S. Tzou
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Piezoelectric Layer ◽  
Piezoelectric Materials ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Basic Structure ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Ambient Vibration ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Energy Harvesters ◽  
Segment Size

Piezoelectric materials can be used as electromechanical conversion mechanisms to transfer ambient vibration into electrical energy to power electronic devices. In this study, an elastic ring laminated with a piezoelectric layer on the inner surface is utilized as the basic structure for energy harvesting. The piezoelectric layer is uniformly segmented into several energy harvesting patches for practical applications. The generated electrical energy resulting from modal voltages is analyzed under the open-circuit condition. Two modal energy generations are evaluated: one is the energy induced by the membrane oscillation and the other is the energy induced by the bending oscillation. For practical design applications, energy generations are evaluated with respect to ring radius, piezoelectric layer thickness, ring thickness and segment size. The maximal energy of all harvester patches on the ring is calculated to determine the optimal patch locations with respect to various ring modes. By summing up energies generated from all harvesters on the ring, the overall energy is also evaluated Based on the normalizations and assumptions of parameters, results indicate that the larger the segment size is, the less the energy can be generated.

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