Wearable textile-based energy harvester designed for human motion.

POSTER

Abstract

While there are many different methods of generating sustainable energy, small quantities of energy otherwise wasted in the pursuit of everyday activities are often overlooked. Recently, electrochemical energy harvesters joined the ranks of piezoelectric and triboelectric harvesters to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. Here, we use materials with mechanochemical response to seamlessly integrate motion harvesting into textiles for wearable applications. This study presents a novel class of safe and non-toxic ``smart'' energy harvesters which can be activated via sweat, simulated here by a solution of NaCl. The harvester comprised of a sodium tin alloy on copper fabric exploits ambient motion at frequencies of 0.1 Hz. In bend tests, the harvester generates a peak power of \textasciitilde 36.4 $\mu $W/cm$^{\mathrm{2}}$ and energy of \textasciitilde 131.1$\mu $J/cm$^{\mathrm{2}}$ with each bend. Additionally, it is sensitive to changes in salt concentration, suggesting applications in hydration-monitoring. These results emphasize the exciting possibilities for a new class of wearable harvesters.

Authors

  • Rebeca Gurrola

    St. Mary's University

  • Yoshiharu Krockenberger

    University of California, Santa Cruz, Sandia National Lab, Florida Polytechnic University, Colorado School of Mines, Florida Industrial and Phosphate Research Institute, FL Polytech University, Kenyon College, Institute for Gravitation and the Cosmos, The Pennsylvania State University, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Vanderbilt University, NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, 32826, Florida Space Institute, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, 32816, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, 32816, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Cent, UC Davis, University of Central Florida, Polish Academy of Sciences, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) Basic Research Laboratories

  • Yoshiharu Krockenberger

    University of California, Santa Cruz, Sandia National Lab, Florida Polytechnic University, Colorado School of Mines, Florida Industrial and Phosphate Research Institute, FL Polytech University, Kenyon College, Institute for Gravitation and the Cosmos, The Pennsylvania State University, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Vanderbilt University, NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, 32826, Florida Space Institute, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, 32816, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, 32816, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Cent, UC Davis, University of Central Florida, Polish Academy of Sciences, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) Basic Research Laboratories