Engineers Garage

  • Electronics Projects and Tutorials
    • Electronic Projects
      • Arduino Projects
      • AVR
      • Raspberry pi
      • ESP8266
      • BeagleBone
      • 8051 Microcontroller
      • ARM
      • PIC Microcontroller
      • STM32
    • Tutorials
      • Audio Electronics
      • Battery Management
      • Brainwave
      • Electric Vehicles
      • EMI/EMC/RFI
      • Hardware Filters
      • IoT tutorials
      • Power Tutorials
      • Python
      • Sensors
      • USB
      • VHDL
    • Circuit Design
    • Project Videos
    • Components
  • Articles
    • Tech Articles
    • Insight
    • Invention Stories
    • How to
    • What Is
  • News
    • Electronic Product News
    • Business News
    • Company/Start-up News
    • DIY Reviews
    • Guest Post
  • Forums
    • EDABoard.com
    • Electro-Tech-Online
    • EG Forum Archive
  • DigiKey Store
    • Cables, Wires
    • Connectors, Interconnect
    • Discrete
    • Electromechanical
    • Embedded Computers
    • Enclosures, Hardware, Office
    • Integrated Circuits (ICs)
    • Isolators
    • LED/Optoelectronics
    • Passive
    • Power, Circuit Protection
    • Programmers
    • RF, Wireless
    • Semiconductors
    • Sensors, Transducers
    • Test Products
    • Tools
  • Learn
    • eBooks/Tech Tips
    • Design Guides
    • Learning Center
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Webinars & Digital Events
  • Resources
    • Digital Issues
    • EE Training Days
    • LEAP Awards
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • White Papers
    • Engineering Diversity & Inclusion
    • DesignFast
  • Guest Post Guidelines
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

The key to generating useable energy from static electricity

By Shree Mod June 1, 2020

Static electricity is not fatal but it can carry a high voltage that goes up to tens of thousands of volts. Triboelectricity, an electric charge generated by friction, is produced when two solid surfaces come in contact with one another. However, scientists have noted that it is generated even when liquids come in contact with solids. The amount of electricity generated is much lower than that generated during solid-solid contact.

Energy harvesting possible by using any water, such as tap water, rainwater, or seawater.

Professor Dongwhi Choi and his team from Kyung Hee University, South Korea, attempted to address this problem by developing a more stable technique of injecting electrical charges into a polymer material, which enhances the conventional energy generation. Their research paper was published under the title of “Monocharged Electret based Liquid-Solid Interacting Triboelectric Nanogenerator, for its Boosted Electrical Output Performance.’”

“Basically, it is a platform of collecting triboelectricity generated by moving drops of liquid on energy harvesting devices,” explained Choi. “Much research in the past demonstrated that introducing nanoscales on the device increases the triboelectricity generation. The problem was that nanoscales are not easy to create and that they make the device opaque. The liquid-solid contact makes a good application for transparent objects, which is an advantage that creating nanoscales can hardly contribute to.”

His team experimented with surface topography, hypothesizing that artificially injecting electrical charges instead of introducing nanoscales would increase energy generation. The outcome was an unprecedented amount of energy.

It’s one of the first researches in the world that registered success in demonstrating changes in energy levels when liquid and solid come in contact with each other. It implies that we are a step closer to self-powered sensors and flexible energy harvesters.

Applications
Sunmin Jang, a graduate student and member of this team, said: “Previously pure distilled water was considered to be the best medium for the liquid-solid contact triboelectrification, since impurities in the water hindered the process. In other words, the energy output level of tap water, rainwater, or seawater was deemed too low to be practical. Our research solved this problem, it seems that we can use any water commonly existing around us for energy harvesting.”

The platform is apt to be used as a sensor since solutions generate different amounts of electric current in relation to concentration. Conversely, the harvester produced by this team works as a sensor that detects a solution’s concentration.

Its transparency makes it an ideal choice for photovoltaic panels that harvest energy during rainfall. It will also help in creation of transparent and flexible devices.

“Inserting electric charges is not necessarily a novel idea, and the fabrication process is relatively simple. In a nutshell, it is highly practical,” said Choi. “Moreover, this conventional technique generates a great amount of energy when combined with typical polymers, promising great application opportunities.”


Filed Under: News
Tagged With: kyungheeuniversity
 

Next Article

← Previous Article
Next Article →

Questions related to this article?
👉Ask and discuss on Electro-Tech-Online.com and EDAboard.com forums.



Tell Us What You Think!! Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

EE TECH TOOLBOX

“ee
Tech Toolbox: Internet of Things
Explore practical strategies for minimizing attack surfaces, managing memory efficiently, and securing firmware. Download now to ensure your IoT implementations remain secure, efficient, and future-ready.

EE Learning Center

EE Learning Center
“engineers
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for EE professionals.

HAVE A QUESTION?

Have a technical question about an article or other engineering questions? Check out our engineering forums EDABoard.com and Electro-Tech-Online.com where you can get those questions asked and answered by your peers!


RSS EDABOARD.com Discussions

  • How can I get the frequency please help!
  • Elektronik devre
  • 12VAC to 12VDC 5A on 250ft 12AWG
  • SPI speed pic18f66j15
  • Antiparallel Schottky Diodes VDI-Load Pull

RSS Electro-Tech-Online.com Discussions

  • how to work on pcbs that are thick
  • compatible eth ports for laptop
  • How to repair this plug in connector where wires came loose
  • Actin group needed for effective PCB software tutorials
  • Kawai KDP 80 Electronic Piano Dead

Featured – Designing of Audio Amplifiers part 9 series

  • Basics of Audio Amplifier – 1/9
  • Designing 250 Milli Watt Audio Power Amplifier – 2/9
  • Designing 1 Watt Audio Power Amplifier – 3/9
  • Designing a Bass Boost Amplifier – 4/9
  • Designing a 6 Watt Car Audio Amplifier – 5/9
  • Design a low power amplifier for headphones- 6/9

Recent Articles

  • ITG Electronics releases gate drive transformers with 200 – 450 V DC capability
  • Stackpole introduces HCJ jumpers with 70.7 amp continuous current capability
  • Infineon releases MCU with 128K flash and multi-sense capabilities
  • ST introduces 600V GaN gate drivers with 300 ns start-up time
  • ABLIC releases S-19116 automotive voltage detector with 6.8μs response time

EE ENGINEERING TRAINING DAYS

engineering

Submit a Guest Post

submit a guest post
Engineers Garage
  • Analog IC TIps
  • Connector Tips
  • Battery Power Tips
  • DesignFast
  • EDABoard Forums
  • EE World Online
  • Electro-Tech-Online Forums
  • EV Engineering
  • Microcontroller Tips
  • Power Electronic Tips
  • Sensor Tips
  • Test and Measurement Tips
  • 5G Technology World
  • Subscribe to our newsletter
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy

Search Engineers Garage

  • Electronics Projects and Tutorials
    • Electronic Projects
      • Arduino Projects
      • AVR
      • Raspberry pi
      • ESP8266
      • BeagleBone
      • 8051 Microcontroller
      • ARM
      • PIC Microcontroller
      • STM32
    • Tutorials
      • Audio Electronics
      • Battery Management
      • Brainwave
      • Electric Vehicles
      • EMI/EMC/RFI
      • Hardware Filters
      • IoT tutorials
      • Power Tutorials
      • Python
      • Sensors
      • USB
      • VHDL
    • Circuit Design
    • Project Videos
    • Components
  • Articles
    • Tech Articles
    • Insight
    • Invention Stories
    • How to
    • What Is
  • News
    • Electronic Product News
    • Business News
    • Company/Start-up News
    • DIY Reviews
    • Guest Post
  • Forums
    • EDABoard.com
    • Electro-Tech-Online
    • EG Forum Archive
  • DigiKey Store
    • Cables, Wires
    • Connectors, Interconnect
    • Discrete
    • Electromechanical
    • Embedded Computers
    • Enclosures, Hardware, Office
    • Integrated Circuits (ICs)
    • Isolators
    • LED/Optoelectronics
    • Passive
    • Power, Circuit Protection
    • Programmers
    • RF, Wireless
    • Semiconductors
    • Sensors, Transducers
    • Test Products
    • Tools
  • Learn
    • eBooks/Tech Tips
    • Design Guides
    • Learning Center
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Webinars & Digital Events
  • Resources
    • Digital Issues
    • EE Training Days
    • LEAP Awards
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • White Papers
    • Engineering Diversity & Inclusion
    • DesignFast
  • Guest Post Guidelines
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe