Context
Scientists have fabricated a simple, cost-effective, bio-compatible, transparent nanogenerator (TENG). It can generate electricity from vibrations all around for use in optoelectronics, self-powered devices, and other biomedical applications.
- The project was funded through the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India.
About the newly developed nano-generator
- The triboelectricnanogenerators (TENG) make use of mechanical energy in the form of vibrations present everywhere in different forms to generate electricity.
- The material used: It is formed using thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) either in the form of electrospunnanofibers or as a flat film.
- TPU nanofibers are obtained from the electrospinning (ES) technique.
Electrospinning (ES) technique
- Electrospinning is a manufacturing technique involving an electrostatic driven process used to create electrospun fibers.
- It uses electric force to draw charged threads of polymer solutions or polymer.
- The diameter of these fibers typically ranges between tens of nanometers to a few micrometers.
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- The technique involved: The simpler Doctor’s blade technique, along with Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as tribo layers is used.
- Working:The energy harvesting TENG works on the principle of creation of electrostatic charges via instantaneous physical contact of two dissimilar materials followed by generation of potential difference when a mismatch is introduced between the two contacted surfaces through a mechanical force.
- This mechanism drives the electrons to move back and forth between the conducting films coated on the back of the tribo layers.
- Advantages:The easy availability of the active material and the simplicity of the fabrication process make it cost-effective over currently available fabrication techniques.
- The resulting device is also highly efficient, robust, and gives reproducible output over long hours of operation.
- It is a good renewable energy resource that would help in the reduction of carbon
- Other Methods to make TENG: The method employed till date to design TENG use expensive fabrication methods like photolithography or reactive ion etching, and additional process like electrode preparation and so on.
- Some Unconventional methods to generate electricity: piezoelectric, thermoelectric, and electrostatic techniques used in devices like touch screens, electronic displays, and so forth.
