SAEDNEWS: Engineers in South Korea have designed a device with innovative 3D architecture that can generate electricity from body movement up to 280 times more efficiently than previous technologies. This advancement could have widespread applications in areas such as wearable devices, health, and clean energy.
According to SaedNews, researchers at the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) in South Korea have developed a highly efficient energy-harvesting device that converts body movements into electrical energy. This new device has 280 times higher energy conversion efficiency than conventional piezoelectric energy harvesters.
This device utilizes the piezoelectric effect, a phenomenon where certain materials generate an electric charge in response to mechanical stress. This means activities like walking, bending, or even subtle body movements can be used to generate electricity. Piezoelectric materials have an inherent asymmetry in their charge distribution, and when subjected to mechanical stress like bending or stretching, this asymmetry is enhanced, leading to charge separation and the generation of an electric potential across the material. This conversion of mechanical energy into electrical energy forms the basis of piezoelectric energy harvesting.
While the concept of piezoelectric energy harvesting is not new, its application in wearable devices has been limited due to material properties and device design constraints. Many materials with strong piezoelectric responses, such as lead zirconate titanate (PZT), are inherently hard and brittle. This makes them unsuitable for integration into flexible and comfortable wearable devices. The Korean research team overcame this barrier through innovative materials engineering. They devised a unique 3D structure that allows the use of PZT while maintaining a high degree of flexibility and stretchability.
Additionally, the researchers introduced a new electrode design called the "curved dual-electrode." This design ensures efficient energy capture by preventing the cancellation of electric charges generated during movement. This significantly enhances the overall efficiency of the device. This highly efficient energy harvester paves the way for self-powered wearable electronics. Such devices could potentially eliminate the need for frequent battery recharging or replacement across a wide range of applications, including smartwatches, fitness trackers, and medical sensors. This research represents a major step forward in wearable technology. The team's innovative approach to materials design and electrode configuration has created a device with the potential to revolutionize how wearable devices are powered.
