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    • "Green" Triboelectric Power Boards Turn Footsteps into Electricity and More

    Details

    Project Title"Green" Triboelectric Power Boards Turn Footsteps into Electricity and More
    Track CodeP160323US01
    Websitehttp://www.warf.org/technologies/summary/P160323US01.cmsx
    Short DescriptionMechanical energy takes many forms in the environment, from ambient vibrations to individual footsteps. It represents a sustainable and largely untapped energy source that could be harnessed to power portable electronics, among many other applications.

    To achieve this, a new technology called the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) was recently developed to turn mechanical energy into useful electric current. TENGs are relatively lightweight, efficient and easy to manufacture. They are made of positive and negative triboelectric layers that transfer charge upon contact. Commonly used materials include various synthetic polymers (e.g., PVDF, PDMS, PET).\r\n\r\nUW–Madison researchers have developed the first TENG device built entirely from biodegradable and green materials. The two active layers comprise cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) or wood fibers chemically treated to alter their electron affinity. CNFs and wood fibers are ideal because they have high surface areas, can be functionalized with a variety of chemical groups and can be formed into flexible and optically transparent films.
    AbstractThe Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) is seeking commercial partners interested in developing a new class of triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) energy harvesting devices that are made from renewable cellulose and/or wood fibers and as affordable as conventional materials.
     
    Tagsenvironmental, TENG, Energy
     
    Posted DateMar 17, 2017 10:45 AM

    Advantages

    • Cost and performance on par with conventional materials
    • Cellulose and wood fibers are abundant, cheap and derived from renewable sources (wood pulp).
    • Small, flexible and lightweight design

    Potential Applications

    • The new TENGs can be used to drive small electronics, charge batteries and capacitors, be integrated into wearable electronics, flooring, packaging and more.

    Additional Information

    Contact Information

    TTO Home Page: http://www.warf.org



    Name : Michael Carey

    Title : Licensing Manager

    Department : Licensing

    Email : mcarey@warf.org

    Phone : 608-960-9867

    Address : 614 Walnut Street, 13th floor, Madison, WI 53726

    Principal Investigator

    Name : Alberto Hernandez Valle

    Department : Materials Science and Engineering



    Name : Chunhua Yao

    Department : Materials Science and Engineering



    Name : Xudong Wang

    Department : Materials Science and Engineering



    Name : Yanhao Yu

    Department : Materials Science and Engineering



    Name : Zhiyong Cai

    Department : USDA FOREST SERVICE FOREST PRODUCTS LAB (FPL)

    Intellectual Property

    Patent Number : 10,277,147

    Patent Title : TRIBOELECTRIC NANOGENERATORS BASED ON CHEMICALLY TREATED CELLULOSE

    Patent Application Date : Jun 9, 2016

    Patent Publication Date : Dec 14, 2017

    Patent Issue Date : Apr 30, 2019

    Patent Link : http://www.warf.org/documents/ipstatus/P160323US01.PDF