Development of Fiber Sensor for Landslide Prevention by DGIST Research Team Led by Sanggyu Lim

On May 14, DGIST (President Lee Geonwoo) announced that the research team led by Dr. Sanggyu Lim from the Department of Energy and Environmental Research has developed a smart fiber sensor capable of real-time detection of natural disasters such as landslides. The newly developed fiber is based on 'piezoelectric' technology, which converts pressure into electricity. By utilizing a three-dimensional structure, the team has significantly enhanced performance and implemented a self-powered sensor system that operates without an external power source.

Piezoelectric fibers are materials that generate electricity when pressed or bent, and are used in wearable devices, smart fiber sensors, and energy harvesting devices. However, in conventional fiber structures, there are many air layers, and the impact of these air layers on performance had not been clearly identified. Additionally, the structure itself had limitations in output.

DGIST research team that developed a landslide detection fiber sensor. From the left, Hyjin Seo, Sunghui Hong, Youngkwang Kim, and Sanggyu Lim.

The research team developed a new nanomaterial called tin titanate nanorods (SnTiO₃NR) and combined it with the polymer PVDF to create piezoelectric fibers. These fibers have an eight-lobed cross-section resembling flower petals and are woven into a 3D 'double raschel' structure by layering two sheets using a special knitting technique. This structure forms air layers between the fibers, which help with shock absorption, pressure transmission, and signal amplification.

Sensors made with this fiber were able to generate a maximum voltage of 92.8V and a current of 4.13mA when a pressure of 1Nm-2 was applied to an area of 5cm×5cm. This output is powerful enough to light up 22 LEDs without any external power source, making it sufficient to operate everyday sensor systems and small electronic devices. This demonstrates that simply changing the fiber structure can greatly enhance performance. The output is more than twice that of conventional flat structures, opening up possibilities for high-performance smart fibers.

In addition, the research team implemented a Bluetooth-based real-time landslide detection system using this fiber, which can operate without an external power source. The system can detect external forces and wirelessly transmit data, making it applicable in a wide range of areas, from disaster warning for landslides caused by heavy rainfall to healthcare and exercise tracking.

Dr. Sanggyu Lim stated, "Through this research, we have identified both structural and non-structural factors that can improve the performance of piezoelectric fibers. Based on this, we can contribute to the development of smart detection technologies that can proactively respond to various disasters such as landslides caused by heavy rainfall."

This research was supported by DGIST's institutional research program, and the results were published online in the internationally renowned journal in the field of materials science, 'Advanced Functional Materials,' on April 21.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.