The development of power generators that can function in harsh snowy environments and in contact with snow can be beneficial but challenging to accomplish. Herein, we introduce the first snow-based ...triboelectric nanogenerator (snow-TENG) that can be used as an energy harvester and a multifunctional sensor based on the principle of snow-triboelectrification. In this work, we used a 3D printing technique for the precise design and deposition of the electrode and triboelectric layer, leading to flexible, stretchable and metal-free triboelectric generators. Based on the single electrode mode, the device can generate an instantaneous output power density as high as 0.2 mW/m2, an open circuit voltage up to 8 V, and a current density of 40 μA/m2. In addition, the snow-TENG can function as a miniaturized weather station to monitor the weather in real time to provide accurate information about the snowfall rate, snow accumulation depth, wind direction, and speed in snowy and/or icy environments. In addition, the snow-TENG can be used as a wearable power source and biomechanical sensor to detect human body motions, which may prove useful for snow-related sports. Unlike conventional sensor platforms, our design works without the need for batteries or image processing systems. We envision these devices could potentially be integrated into solar panels to ensure continuous power supply during snowy weather conditions.
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•The first snow-based energy harvester and multifunctional sensor was developed based on the concept of snow-triboelectrification.•This snow-based triboelectric nanogenerator (Snow-TENG) can produce a power density of 0.2 mW/m2, and an open circuit voltage up to 8 V.•The snow-TENG works as a self-powered sensor to monitor snowfall rate, accumulation depth, wind direction, and speed in snowy/icy environments.•This compact wearable sensor can precisely detect human body motions and may eventually be used for monitoring training and competitive sports.
The development of wearable, all‐in‐one sensors that can simultaneously monitor several hazard conditions in a real‐time fashion imposes the emergent requirement for a smart and stretchable hazard ...avoidance sensing platform that is stretchable and skin‐like. Multifunctional sensors with these features are problematic and challenging to accomplish. In this context, a multimodal ferrofluid‐based triboelectric nanogenerator (FO‐TENG), featuring sensing capabilities to a variety of hazard stimulus such as a strong magnetic field, noise level, and falling or drowning is reported. The FO‐TENG consists of a deformable elastomer tube filled with a ferrofluid, as a triboelectric layer, surrounded by a patterned copper wire, as an electrode, endowing the FO‐TENG with excellent waterproof ability, conformability, and stretchability (up to 300%). In addition, The FO‐TENG is highly flexible and sustains structural integrity and detection capability under repetitive deformations, including bending and twisting. This FO‐TENG represents a smart multifaceted sensing platform that has a unique capacity in diverse applications including hazard preventive wearables, and remote healthcare monitoring.
An ultra‐shapeable triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) unit with ferrofluid contained in a polymer cover, which can effectively sense multiple stimuli to monitor different hazard stimuli such as acoustic waves, magnetic field, and the impact force, is reported. This approach provides a new prospect for multifunctional self‐powered sensors and has important applications in hazard preventive wearables, and remote healthcare monitoring.
Advances in implantable bioelectronics for the nervous system are reinventing the stimulation, inhibition, and sensing of neuronal activity. These efforts promise not just breakthrough treatments of ...several neurological and psychiatric conditions but also signal the beginning of a new era of computer‐controlled human therapeutics. Batteries remain the major power source for all implanted electrical neuromodulation devices, which impairs miniaturization and necessitates replacement surgery when the battery is drained. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have recently emerged as an innovative power solution for self‐powered, closed loop electrical neurostimulation devices. TENGs can leverage the biomechanical activities of different body organs to sustainably generate electricity for electrical neurostimulation. This review features advances in TENGs as they pave the way for self‐sustainable closed loop neurostimulation. A comprehensive review of TENG research for the neurostimulation of brain, autonomic, and somatic nervous systems is provided. The direction of growth of this field, publication trends, and modes of TENG in implantable bioelectronics are also discussed. Finally, an insightful outlook into challenges facing self‐sustainable neuromodulators to reach clinical practice is provided, and solutions for neurological maladies are proposed.
Neurostimulators that are battery‐free and self‐powered could revolutionize the treatment of many neurological/psychiatric conditions. Here, recent advances in triboelectric nanogenerators and their application in self‐sustainable stimulation of the nervous system are comprehensively reviewed. An insightful outlook into challenges facing self‐sustainable neuromodulators to reach clinical practice and proposed solutions are provided.
Brain-implanted stimulators are revolutionizing treatment of many neurological and psychiatric diseases, but still rely on temporary batteries for power, which require periodic replacements. ...Battery-free, self-sustainable deep brain stimulation (DBS) devices remain an unsolved challenge. Herein, we report a self-sustainable, battery-free, intermittent DBS system. This device is enabled by interfacing a high-performance bio-triboelectric nanogenerator (Bio-TENG) as an energy harvester with bio-supercapacitors as fast-charging energy storage units to intermittently drive a DBS pulse generator. The Bio-TENG acts as a smart breathing sensor and biomechanical energy harvester using the inhalation and exhalation motions of an inflated swine lung to charge bio-supercapacitors, which drive the pulse generator to stimulate neurons in mouse hippocampus tissues ex vivo. An intra-electrode triboelectrification strategy is used to boost the Bio-TENG power output. This sustainable intermittent power approach may provide a strategy for powering brain-machine bioelectronics.
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•Bio-supercap/Bio-TENG successfully harvests and stores energy from breathing lungs•The harvested energy intermittently stimulates the brain in a self-sustainable system•Intra-electrode triboelectrification is introduced to boost power
Elsanadidy et al. report an implantable battery-free deep brain stimulator that relies on energy from breathing to stimulate the brain. This device harvests and stores the mechanical energy from breathing lungs and may be capable of stimulating the brain hippocampus in an intermittent fashion.
Postdocs reimagined Konstantinides, Nikolaos; Dinkins, Christina; Stewart, Martin P. ...
Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science),
07/2015, Volume:
349, Issue:
6243
Journal Article
PDF
