• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.213-218
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• 2023

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have emerged as a highly promising energy harvesting technology capable of harnessing mechanical energy from various environmental vibrations. Their versatility in material selection and efficient conversion of mechanical energy into electric energy make them particularly attractive. TENGs can serve as a valuable technology for self-powered sensor operation in preparation for the IoT era. Additionally, they demonstrate potential for diverse applications, including energy sources for implanted medical devices (IMDs), neural therapy, and wound healing. In this review, we summarize the potential use of this universally applicable triboelectric energy harvesting technology in the disinfection and blocking of pathogens. By integrating triboelectric energy harvesting technology into human clothing, masks, and other accessories, we propose the possibility of blocking pathogens, along with technologies for removing airborne or waterborne infectious agents. Through this, we suggest that triboelectric energy harvesting technology could be an efficient alternative to existing pathogen removal technologies in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.292-297
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• 2023

Triboelectric devices are attracting attention from researchers as self-powered electronic systems that can instantly convert mechanical input into electrical energy output. To improve triboelectric energy harvesting performance, increasing the number of contacts as well as the contact area has been carried out by numerous researchers. In this study, we design a shaker-type energy harvester which is called as maracas triboelectric generator (M-TEG), inspired by the structure of maracas, one of the musical percussion instruments. A tripod frame is inserted to the inside of a cylindrical case, which is a device with the electrodes of aluminum and copper. Then, the triboelectric energy harvesting characteristics between polypropylene (PP) balls and the electrodes are measured. The M-TEG with the frame generates the energy harvesting signals up to ~100 V and ~2.5 ㎂ due to larger contact area and numbers, which enhances the voltage and current output by 250% and 610% compared to that without the frame, respectively. This study presents the feasibility of self-powered sensors and toys using improved triboelectric energy performance with a low-cost and simple manufacturing process in the interesting structure.

• Ceramist
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.110-121
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• 2019

Triboelectric nanogenerators and piezoelectric nanogenerators are a spotlighted energy harvesting method that converts the wasted mechanical energy from the environment into usable electrical energy. In the case of triboelectric nanogenerators, researches have been mainly focused on high permittivity and flexible polymer materials, and in the case of piezoelectric nanogenerators, researches have been focused on ceramic materials exhibiting high polarization characteristics. Recently, many researches have been conducted to improve durability and power in various environments by using composite materials which have flexible properties of polymer, high permittivity, thermal resistance and high polarization properties of ceramics. This article reviews the energy harvesting studies reported about composites materials using ceramics and polymers.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.631-631
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• 2013

Battery has major drawbacks including its size and life expectancy, and environmental problem. As an alternative, energy harvesting is emerging as a potential solution to replace battery along with more energy-efficient IT devices. The idea of harnessing energy from our living environment is sustainable, semi-permanent, and eco-friendly. Also, unlike battery, energy harvester does not require much space to store energy. Therefore, energy harvesting can provide a better source of power for small, portable, and wireless devices. Among various ways of harvesting energy from our surroundings, triboelectricity is chosen due to its potential to be miniaturized, and efficient. Triboelectric effect occurs as two different materials with different polarity of charge separation come into contact through friction, and then become separated so that electric potential difference is achieved. In this research, such characteristic of triboelectricity is used as a way to convert ambient mechanical energy into electric energy.Series of recent researches have shown promising results that the triboelectric energy harvester can be simple and cost effective. However, sufficient electricity level required to operate mobile devices has not yet been achieved.In this research, our group focuses on the design and optimization of triboelectric energy harvesting device to enhance its output. By using maskless lithography to pattern Kapton film and silicon substrate, which is used as a mold for PDMS thin layer, and sputtering metal electrodes on each side, we fabricate and demonstrate different designs of triboelectric energy harvester that utilizes the contact electrification between a polymer thin film and a metal thin foil. In order to achieve optimized result, the output voltage and current are measured under diverse conditions, which include different surface structure and pattern, material, and the gap between layers.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.243-250
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• 2020

Energy harvesting is a recent technology involving the harvest and utilization of extremely small surrounding energy. Energy harvesting research is conducted in various fields. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are energy harvesting technologies that use static electricity generated by physical movement or friction. Although TENGs generate output power in microwatt levels, they experience high internal impedance compared with other energy harvesting generators, thereby making the continuous transfer of electric power to loads difficult. This study proposes a power management system for TENGs that consists of three stages, that is, an AC/DC rectifier, an impedance coupler switch with a capacitor bank, and a DC/DC converter. In addition, the selection method of the AC/DC rectifier and DC/DC converter is proposed to maximize the amount of power transferred from energy harvesting areas. Furthermore, the impedance coupler switch and capacitor bank are discussed in detail. The validity and performance of the proposed three-stage power management system for TENGs are verified using a prototype system.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.225-234
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• 2019

By using the Triboelectric nanogenerators, known as TENG, we can take advantages of high conversion efficiency and continuous power output even with small vibrating energy sources. Nonlinear energy extraction techniques for Triboelectric vibration energy harvesting usually requires synchronized active electronic switches in most electronic interface circuits. This study presents a nonlinear energy harvesting with high energy conversion efficiency to harvest and save energies from human active motions. Moreover, the proposed design can harvest and store energy from sway motions around different directions on a horizontal plane efficiently. Finally, we conducted a comparative analysis of a multi-mode energy storage board developed by a silicon-based piezoelectricity and a transparent TENG cell. As a result, the experiment showed power generation of about 49.2mW/count from theses multi-fully harvesting source with provision of stable energy storages.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.198-203
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• 2013

Energy harvesting refers to converting ambient energy from our surroundings, which would be otherwise wasted, into useful electrical energy. A triboelectric energy harvester is a self-charged device for harnessing mechanical energy based on a coupled process of contact charging and electrostatic induction. In this research, we demonstrate simple fabrication of prototype triboelectric energy harvester using soft lithography and its electrical characterization. Triboelectric generation occurs between the two micro patterned layers of Au and PDMS. A micro pattern is simply replicated directly from the bottom layer to the top layer using soft-lithography without an extra transfer process. This generator can produce an output voltage of 2 V and output current of 20 nA.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.639-646
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• 2022

Energy harvesting technologies that can convert wasted various energy into usable electrical energy have been widely investigated to overcome the limitation of batteries for the powering of IoT sensors and small electronic devices. Hybrid energy harvesting is known as a technology that enhances the output power of single energy harvesting device by housing two or more various energy harvesting mechanisms. In this study, we introduce a hybrid MME (Magneto-Mechano-Electric) generator coupled with the triboelectric effect. Through FEA modeling, four triboelectric materials, including PI (Polyimide), PFA(Teflon), Cu, and Al, were selected and compared with the expected triboelectric potentials. The effect of surface morphology was investigated as well. Among various combination of triboelectric materials and surface morphologies, PFA-Al combination with the surface morphology having nano-scale square projections showed highest output potential under triboelectrification. It is also experimentally confirmed that output voltage and power of the hybrid MME generator with triboelectric material combinations.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.324-330
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• 2021

As energy harvesting technology becomes important in relation to environmental issues, piezoelectric materials that convert mechanical energy into electrical energy are attracting attention. However, PZT, a representative material for piezoelectricity, is becoming difficult to use due to the problem that its components can cause environmental pollution. For this reason, recent research suggests a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) that generates energy through the combined effect of triboelectricity and electric induction for alternative piezoelectric devices. In TENG, electrical power is determined by the dielectric constant, thickness, and grain generation of the charged material. Therefore, in this study, a Rutile phase TiO₂ thin film with high dielectric constant was formed using the spin-coating process and the effect of annealing was investigated. For electrical analysis, a TENG device was fabricated using PTFE as a material with an opposite charge, and electrical output according to film thickness and grain formation was comparatively analyzed.

• Ceramist
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.54-88
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• 2020

Global effort has resulted in tremendous progress with energy harvesters that extract mechanical energy from ambient sources, convert it to electrical energy, and use it for systems such as wrist watches, mobile electronic devices, wireless sensor nodes, health monitoring, and biosensors. However, harvesting a single energy source only still pauses a great challenge in driving sustainable and maintenance-free monitoring and sensing devices. Over the last few years, research on high-performance mechanical energy harvesters at the micro and nanoscale has been directed toward the development of hybrid devices that either aim to harvest mechanical energy in addition to other types of energies simultaneously or to exploit multiple mechanisms to more effectively harvest mechanical energy. Herein, we appraise the rational designs for multiple energy harvesting, specifically state-of-the-art hybrid mechanical energy harvesters that employ multiple piezoelectric and triboelectric mechanisms to efficiently harvest mechanical energy. We identify the critical material parameters and device design criteria that lead to high-performance hybrid mechanical energy harvesters. Finally, we address the future perspectives and remaining challenges in the field.