Energy harvesting (EH) captures ambient energy from sources such as vibrations, thermal gradients, and light and converts it into usable electrical energy, which is considered as a pivotal advancement in sustainable technology. Today, tiny sensors and small devices can operate on minimal power, making them ideal candidates for EH. For instance, a cardiac pacemaker, which only consumes 50μW over seven years, and a hearing aid, requiring 1mW for five days, demonstrate the practical utility of EH in extending device lifespans and reducing battery dependency.
Our research has delved into various energy harvesting techniques such as vibration energy harvesting (VEH) and thermal energy harvesting (TEH), with a recent focus on developing Triboelectric Nanogenerators (TENGs). TENGs are capable of converting kinetic energy from object vibrations, human body movements, and water flow into electricity. They are recognized as a significant breakthrough in VEH due to their high output density and effectiveness at low and irregular vibrational frequencies (less than 10Hz). Our research spans from TENG devices and interface circuits to self-powered systems, all aimed at enhancing the sustainability of technology deployments and facilitating the integration of these devices into the future Internet of Things (IoT) landscape, potentially eliminating the need for batteries.
