New research harnesses the power of movement

Date:
April 25, 2022
Source:
Northumbria University
Summary:
Harvesting energy from the day-to-day movements of the human body
and turning it into useful electrical energy, is the focus of a
new piece of research. Academics have developed a unique design
for sensors capable of using human movements -- such as bending,
twisting and stretching -- to power wearable technology devices
including smart watches and fitness trackers.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Harvesting energy from the day-to-day movements of the human body and
turning it into useful electrical energy, is the focus of a new piece
of research involving a Northumbria University Professor.


========================================================================== Academics from Northwestern Polytechnical University in China, supported
by Professor Richard Fu from Northumbria, have developed a unique design
for sensors capable of using human movements -- such as bending, twisting
and stretching -- to power wearable technology devices including smart
watches and fitness trackers.

Self-powered pressure sensors are one of the key components used in
these smart electronic devices which are growing in popularity today. The sensors can operate without the need for external power supplies.

Detecting health conditions and measuring performance in sport are among
the potential uses for these types of sensors. As a result, they are the
focus of extensive research and development, but remain challenging to
produce with the performance sensing, flexibility, and sufficient level
of power needed for wearable technology.

A new research paper published in the scientific journal,Advanced Science, describes how the team led by Professor Weizheng Yuan, Professor Honglong
Chang and Associate Professor Kai Tao from Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU), has worked with Professor Fu to develop a solution.

Their novel method involves using sophisticated materials with
pre-patterned pyramid shapes to create friction against the silicone
polymer known as polydimethylsiloxane or PDMS. This friction generates
a self-powering effect, or triboelectricity, which can significantly
enhance the energy available to power a wearable device.

Professor Tao from NPU explained: "This results in a self-powered
tactile sensor with wide environmental tolerance and excellent sensing performance, and it can detect subtle pressure changes by measuring
the variations of triboelectric output signal without an external power
supply. The sensor design has been tested an is capable of controlling electrical appliances and robotic hands by simulating human finger
gestures, confirming its potential for use in wearable technology."
Professor Fu added: "This self-powered sensor based on hydrogels has
a simple fabrication process, but with a superb flexibility, good
transparency, fast response and high stability."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Northumbria_University. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Kai Tao, Zhensheng Chen, Jiahao Yu, Haozhe Zeng, Jin Wu, Zixuan Wu,
Qingyan Jia, Peng Li, Yongqing Fu, Honglong Chang, Weizheng Yuan.

Ultra‐Sensitive, Deformable, and Transparent Triboelectric
Tactile Sensor Based on Micro‐Pyramid Patterned Ionic Hydrogel
for Interactive Human-Machine Interfaces. Advanced Science, 2022;
9 (10): 2104168 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202104168 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220425135927.htm

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