Research scientists at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland have
demonstrated a new technique for generating electrical energy. The new
method can be used in harvesting energy from mechanical vibrations of
the environment and converting it into electricity. Energy harvesters
are needed, for example, in wireless self-powered sensors and medical
implants, where they could ultimately replace batteries. In the future,
energy harvesters can open up new opportunities in many application
areas such as wearable electronics.
Research scientists at VTT have successfully generated energy by
utilizing the charging phenomenon that occurs naturally between two
bodies with different work functions. Work function is the amount of
energy needed to remove an electron from a solid and it determines, for
example, the well-known photoelectric effect. When two conducting bodies
with different work functions are connected to each other electrically,
they accumulate opposite charges. Moving of these bodies with respect
to each other generates energy because of the attractive electrostatic
force between the opposite charges. In VTT's experiment the energy
generated by this motion was converted into useful electrical power by
connecting the bodies to an external circuit. This new energy conversion
technique also works with semiconductors.
In many sensor applications and medical implants such as pacemakers, electricity is typically provided by batteries. Research into small energy harvesters that turn mechanical vibration into electricity has focused on piezoelectric and electrostatic devices. Unlike these devices VTT's technique does not require an integrated battery, electrets or piezo materials.
VTT estimates that the new electricity generation technology could be introduced on an industrial scale within three to six years. Energy harvesters and new sensing solutions are among the projected megatrends of the near future. Energy harvesters can replace batteries and other energy sources in applications where maintenance is difficult or impossible.
The findings of the study were published in the Scientific Reports online journal.
In many sensor applications and medical implants such as pacemakers, electricity is typically provided by batteries. Research into small energy harvesters that turn mechanical vibration into electricity has focused on piezoelectric and electrostatic devices. Unlike these devices VTT's technique does not require an integrated battery, electrets or piezo materials.
VTT estimates that the new electricity generation technology could be introduced on an industrial scale within three to six years. Energy harvesters and new sensing solutions are among the projected megatrends of the near future. Energy harvesters can replace batteries and other energy sources in applications where maintenance is difficult or impossible.
The findings of the study were published in the Scientific Reports online journal.
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