Self-Powered Sensors Without Battery Replacement or Recharging Become a Reality

A new power technology has been developed that can operate sensors and robots without the need to replace or recharge batteries.

The National Research Foundation of Korea announced on November 3 that Professor Lee Juhyuk's research team at Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) has developed an "ionic direct current triboelectric nanogenerator (iDC-TENG)" using general-purpose plastic (PVC).

Schematic diagram of an ionic direct current triboelectric nanogenerator. Provided by the National Research Foundation of Korea

An ionic direct current triboelectric nanogenerator refers to a phenomenon in which direct current power is generated by the accumulation of ions on the electrode surface, forming an internal electric field. A rectifier circuit is an electronic circuit that converts alternating current (AC) power into direct current (DC) power.

Devices such as Internet of Things (IoT) devices, wearable devices, and smart logistics sensors can operate on small amounts of power, but replacing and recharging batteries remains a burden.

Conventional triboelectric nanogenerators could convert mechanical movement into electricity, but they only produced alternating current power, which required a rectifier circuit for conversion to direct current.

The problem is that this process results in energy loss and structural complexity. In addition, alternative solutions such as semiconductor materials, dielectric breakdown, and mechanical switching have been limited in real-world industrial applications due to issues of cost, efficiency, and practicality.

To address this, the research team developed the iDC-TENG by adjusting the properties of commonly used plastic (PVC) through the addition of a plasticizer (a substance added to polymers to enhance flexibility and processability), enabling the direct generation of DC power without the need for a separate circuit.

The iDC-TENG offers the advantage of stable power supply even under various movements. The research team plans to continue research to enhance environmental durability, develop large-area and direct fabrication processes, and secure long-term stability.

Professor Lee stated, "This research is academically and industrially significant in that it presents the world's first principle for directly generating direct current power using inexpensive plastic materials. The iDC-TENG can be widely applied not only to IoT devices, wearable electronics, and self-powered sensors, but also in smart logistics settings."

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