Fabrication process, structures, and output signals of a fabric-based wearable energy harvester
KAIST researchers presented a highly flexible but sturdy wearable piezoelectric harvester using the simple and easy fabrication process of hot pressing and tape casting. This energy harvester, which has record high interfacial adhesion strength, will take us one step closer to being able to manufacture embedded wearable electronics.
A research team led by Professor Seungbum Hong said that the novelty of this result lies in its simplicity, applicability, durability, and its new characterization of wearable electronic devices.
Wearable devices are increasingly being used in a wide array of applications from small electronics to embedded devices such as sensors, actuators, displays, and energy harvesters.
Despite their many advantages, high costs and complex fabrication processes remained challenges for reaching commercialization. In addition, their durability was frequently questioned. To address these issues, Professor Hong’s team developed a new fabrication process and analysis technology for testing the mechanical properties of affordable wearable devices.
For this process, the research team used a hot pressing and tape casting procedure to connect the fabric structures of polyester and a polymer film. Hot pressing has usually been used when making batteries and fuel cells due to its high adhesiveness. Above all, the process takes only two to three minutes.
The newly developed fabrication process will enable the direct application of a device into general garments using hot pressing just as graphic patches can be attached to garments using a heat press.
In particular, when the polymer film is hot pressed onto a fabric below its crystallization temperature, it transforms into an amorphous state. In this state, it compactly attaches to the concave surface of the fabric and infiltrates into the gaps between the transverse wefts and longitudinal warps. These features result in high interfacial adhesion strength. For this reason, hot pressing has the potential to reduce the cost of fabrication through the direct application of fabric-based wearable devices to common garments.
In addition to the conventional durability test of bending cycles, the newly introduced surface and interfacial cutting analysis system proved the high mechanical durability of the fabric-based wearable device by measuring the high interfacial adhesion strength between the fabric and the polymer film. Professor Hong said the study lays a new foundation for the manufacturing process and analysis of wearable devices using fabrics and polymers.
He added that his team first used the surface and interfacial cutting analysis system (SAICAS) in the field of wearable electronics to test the mechanical properties of polymer-based wearable devices. Their surface and interfacial cutting analysis system is more precise than conventional methods (peel test, tape test, and microstretch test) because it qualitatively and quantitatively measures the adhesion strength.
Professor Hong explained, “This study could enable the commercialization of highly durable wearable devices based on the analysis of their interfacial adhesion strength. Our study lays a new foundation for the manufacturing process and analysis of other devices using fabrics and polymers. We look forward to fabric-based wearable electronics hitting the market very soon.”
The results of this study were registered as a domestic patent in Korea last year, and published in Nano Energy this month. This study has been conducted through collaboration with Professor Yong Min Lee in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at DGIST, Professor Kwangsoo No in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at KAIST, and Professor Seunghwa Ryu in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at KAIST.
The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Fabric-based piezoelectric energy harvester
- PTFE-based fabric: fire safety and weight reduction
Daikin has developed a PTFE-based fabric that can be incorporated into composite parts. This paper examines the use of this non-woven fabric and its performance in three categories: flame suppression, ...
- Piezoelectric Crystals: Harnessing Mechanical Energy for Sensing and Actuation
PVDF is a piezoelectric polymer that offers flexibility, durability, and high sensitivity. It is commonly used in pressure sensors, vibration sensors, and energy harvesting devices. PVDF films can be ...
- Keyboard or Controller? New Fabric-Based Sensor Can Control Videogames From Your Sleeve
A new study from NC State University combines three-dimensional embroidery techniques with machine learning to create a fabric-based sensor that can control electronic devices through touch. As the ...
- Your next dental implant could be made of fabric
In an attempt to make dental implants less expensive, the ministry is planning to develop a fabric-based tooth to replace expensive implants made from ceramics, polymers, and composites ...
- Building blocks for greener energy: Reconfigurable elastic metasurface components akin to LEGO
Harnessing this capability in energy harvesting allows for the gathering of elastic waves in piezoelectric components ... of Timoshenko–Ehrenfest beam-based reconfigurable elastic metasurface ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Fabric-based piezoelectric energy harvester
[google_news title=”” keyword=”fabric-based piezoelectric energy harvester” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Piezoelectric energy harvester
- It May be Possible to Power Implantable Generators with Our Bodies
Researchers are trying to solve the problem of powering implantable devices to help improve and save lives.
- The Role of Piezoelectric Materials in Medical Devices
2, 3 Another significant advantage of piezoelectric materials is their potential for energy harvesting. Piezoelectrics can harness the biomechanical energy generated by body movements to act as a ...
- Piezoelectric Crystals: Harnessing Mechanical Energy for Sensing and Actuation
PVDF is a piezoelectric polymer that offers flexibility, durability, and high sensitivity. It is commonly used in pressure sensors, vibration sensors, and energy harvesting devices. PVDF films can be ...
- Researchers Improve Energy Harvesting Efficiency with New Metasurface
Harnessing this capability in energy harvesting enables the collection of elastic waves in piezoelectric components, enhancing the efficiency of energy production. However, restrictions in the ...
- Hybrid energy harvesters that harness heat and vibration simultaneously
In response, the KIST research team developed a thermoelectric-piezoelectric hybrid energy harvester that complements the shortcomings of thermoelectric and piezoelectric devices to create a ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Piezoelectric energy harvester
[google_news title=”” keyword=”piezoelectric energy harvester” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]