Recent Progress in Self-Powered Skin Sensors

Self-powered skin sensors have attracted significant attention in recent years due to their great potential in medical care, robotics, prosthetics, and sports. More importantly, self-powered skin sensors do not need any energy-supply components like batteries, which allows them to work sustainably and saves them the trouble of replacement of batteries. The self-powered skin sensors are mainly based on energy harvesters, with the device itself generating electrical signals when triggered by the detected stimulus or analyte, such as body motion, touch/pressure, acoustic sound, and chemicals in sweat. Herein, the recent research achievements of self-powered skin sensors are comprehensively and systematically reviewed. According to the different monitoring signals, the self-powered skin sensors are summarized and discussed with a focus on the working mechanism, device structure, and the sensing principle. Based on the recent progress, the key challenges that exist and the opportunities that lie ahead are also discussed.

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The Recent Progress on Halide Perovskite-Based Self-Powered Sensors Enabled by Piezoelectric and Triboelectric Effects

Nanoenergy Advances ◽

10.3390/nanoenergyadv1010002 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 3-31

Author(s):

Swathi Ippili ◽

Venkatraju Jella ◽

Alphi Maria Thomas ◽

Soon-Gil Yoon

Keyword(s):

Recent Progress ◽

Working Mechanism ◽

Active Materials ◽

Light Pressure ◽

Existing Problems ◽

Halide Perovskites ◽

Self Powered ◽

The Internet Of Things ◽

Significant Attention ◽

Effect Of Light

Sensors have recently gathered significant attention owing to the rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) technology for the real-time monitoring of surroundings and human activities. Particularly, recently discovered nanogenerator-based self-powered sensors are potential candidates to overcome the existing problems of the conventional sensors, including regular monitoring, lifetime of a power unit, and portability. Halide perovskites (HPs), with an excellent photoactive nature, dielectric, piezoelectric, ferroelectric, and pyroelectric properties, have been potential candidates for obtaining flexible and self-powered sensors including light, pressure, and temperature. Additionally, the photo-stimulated dielectric, piezoelectric, and triboelectric properties of HPs make them efficient entrants for developing bimodal and multimode sensors to sense multi-physical signals individually or simultaneously. Therefore, we provide an update on the recent progress in self-powered sensors based on pyroelectric, piezoelectric, and triboelectric effects of HP materials. First, the detailed working mechanism of HP-based piezoelectric, triboelectric, and pyroelectric nanogenerators—operated as self-powered sensors—is presented. Additionally, the effect of light on piezoelectric and triboelectric effects of HPs, which is indispensable in multimode sensor application, is also systematically discussed. Furthermore, the recent advances in nanogenerator-based self-powered bimodal sensors comprising HPs as light-active materials are summarized. Finally, the perspectives and continuing challenges of HP-based self-powered sensors are presented with some opportunities for future development in self-powered multimode sensors.

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Recent Progress on Energy Harvesters for Biomedical Applications

Journal of Circuits System and Computers ◽

10.1142/s0218126621300105 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 2130010

Author(s):

Akshpreet Kaur ◽

Gaurav Sapra ◽

Ankur Gupta

Keyword(s):

Biomedical Applications ◽

Recent Progress ◽

Energy Conversion Efficiency ◽

Energy Harvesters ◽

Energy Demands ◽

Medical Electronic ◽

Self Powered ◽

Biomedical Electronics ◽

Triboelectric Nanogenerators ◽

Wearable Medical

Energy harvesting devices have emerged as a promising technology to not only meet global energy demands but also power biomedical electronics. The dramatic advancement in self-powered biomedical electronics used for monitoring and treatment of severe diseases is part of a paradigm shift that is on the horizon. The review paper highlights recent progress on energy harvesters for scavenging energy to realize self-powered systems. The emphasis is mainly on piezoelectric and triboelectric nanogenerators addressing the basic operating principle, electrical model, design techniques, newly developed materials and their performance as well as associated typical applications. Herein, piezoelectric devices have been compared on basis of their materials, energy conversion efficiency, piezoelectric coefficient and power harvesting circuit. In addition, the recent advances of hybrid nanogenerators in terms of its biomedical applications are also highlighted. Finally, the conclusions and future prospects towards self-powered systems for implantable and wearable medical electronic devices are discussed for effective health monitoring, bio-sensing and clinical therapy.

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Direct Ink Writing of Fluoropolymer/CNT-based Superhydrophobic and Corrosion-Resistant Electrodes for Droplet Energy Harvesters and Self-Powered Electronic Skins

Nano Energy ◽

10.1016/j.nanoen.2021.106095 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 106095

Author(s):

Guisong Yang ◽

Hao Wu ◽

Yanjie Li ◽

Dan Wang ◽

Yuxin Song ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Corrosion Resistant ◽

Energy Harvesters ◽

Direct Ink Writing ◽

Self Powered

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Self-rechargeable cardiac pacemaker system with triboelectric nanogenerators

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-021-24417-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Hanjun Ryu ◽

Hyun-moon Park ◽

Moo-Kang Kim ◽

Bosung Kim ◽

Hyoun Seok Myoung ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medical Devices ◽

Mechanical Energy ◽

Cardiac Pacemaker ◽

Operation Time ◽

Lithium Ion ◽

The Body ◽

Body Motion ◽

Triboelectric Nanogenerator ◽

Implantable Medical Devices ◽

Energy Harvesters

AbstractSelf-powered implantable devices have the potential to extend device operation time inside the body and reduce the necessity for high-risk repeated surgery. Without the technological innovation of in vivo energy harvesters driven by biomechanical energy, energy harvesters are insufficient and inconvenient to power titanium-packaged implantable medical devices. Here, we report on a commercial coin battery-sized high-performance inertia-driven triboelectric nanogenerator (I-TENG) based on body motion and gravity. We demonstrate that the enclosed five-stacked I-TENG converts mechanical energy into electricity at 4.9 μW/cm3 (root-mean-square output). In a preclinical test, we show that the device successfully harvests energy using real-time output voltage data monitored via Bluetooth and demonstrate the ability to charge a lithium-ion battery. Furthermore, we successfully integrate a cardiac pacemaker with the I-TENG, and confirm the ventricle pacing and sensing operation mode of the self-rechargeable cardiac pacemaker system. This proof-of-concept device may lead to the development of new self-rechargeable implantable medical devices.

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The Self-powered RFID Sensor System for Power Transformer Condition Monitoring

2021 IEEE 4th Advanced Information Management, Communicates, Electronic and Automation Control Conference (IMCEC) ◽

10.1109/imcec51613.2021.9482331 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Wang Jian ◽

Zhu Mengzhao ◽

Zhu Wenbing ◽

Gu Zhaoliang ◽

Wang Xuelei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Condition Monitoring ◽

Power Transformer ◽

The Self ◽

Sensor System ◽

Self Powered

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Power Density Improvement of Piezoelectric Energy Harvesters via a Novel Hybridization Scheme with Electromagnetic Transduction

Micromachines ◽

10.3390/mi12070803 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 803

Author(s):

Zhongjie Li ◽

Chuanfu Xin ◽

Yan Peng ◽

Min Wang ◽

Jun Luo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Power Density ◽

Output Power ◽

Energy Harvester ◽

Hybrid Energy ◽

Energy Harvesters ◽

Piezoelectric Patch ◽

Piezoelectric Energy ◽

Electromagnetic Transduction ◽

Self Powered ◽

Power Densities

A novel hybridization scheme is proposed with electromagnetic transduction to improve the power density of piezoelectric energy harvester (PEH) in this paper. Based on the basic cantilever piezoelectric energy harvester (BC-PEH) composed of a mass block, a piezoelectric patch, and a cantilever beam, we replaced the mass block by a magnet array and added a coil array to form the hybrid energy harvester. To enhance the output power of the electromagnetic energy harvester (EMEH), we utilized an alternating magnet array. Then, to compare the power density of the hybrid harvester and BC-PEH, the experiments of output power were conducted. According to the experimental results, the power densities of the hybrid harvester and BC-PEH are, respectively, 3.53 mW/cm3 and 5.14 μW/cm3 under the conditions of 18.6 Hz and 0.3 g. Therefore, the power density of the hybrid harvester is 686 times as high as that of the BC-PEH, which verified the power density improvement of PEH via a hybridization scheme with EMEH. Additionally, the hybrid harvester exhibits better performance for charging capacitors, such as charging a 2.2 mF capacitor to 8 V within 17 s. It is of great significance to further develop self-powered devices.

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Performance analysis of a lever piezoelectric energy harvester for roadway applications

Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures ◽

10.1177/1045389x211001445 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1045389X2110014

Author(s):

Guangya Ding ◽

Hongjun Luo ◽

Jun Wang ◽

Guohui Yuan

Keyword(s):

Output Power ◽

Energy Harvester ◽

Open Circuit ◽

Traffic Load ◽

Energy Harvesters ◽

Speed Sensor ◽

Piezoelectric Energy ◽

Optimal Load ◽

Self Powered ◽

Output Characteristics

A novel lever piezoelectric energy harvester (LPEH) was designed for installation in an actual roadway for energy harvesting. The model incorporates a lever module that amplifies the applied traffic load and transmits it to the piezoelectric ceramic. To observe the piezoelectric growth benefits of the optimized LPEH structure, the output characteristics and durability of two energy harvesters, the LPEH and a piezoelectric energy harvester (PEH) without a lever, were measured and compared by carrying out piezoelectric performance tests and traffic model experiments. Under the same loading condition, the open circuit voltages of the LPEH and PEH were 20.6 and 11.7 V, respectively, which represents a 76% voltage increase for the LPEH compared to the PEH. The output power of the LPEH was 21.51 mW at the optimal load, which was three times higher than that of the PEH (7.45 mW). The output power was linearly dependent on frequency and load, implying the potential application of the module as a self-powered speed sensor. When tested during 300,000 loading cycles, the LPEH still exhibited stable structural performance and durability.

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