Generating clean energy by exploiting the clutch of small pearls, this international research team that discovered a new way of producing electricity through friction has been successful.
THE’electricity It is now indispensable in our daily life. Lighting, appliances, electronic devices and electric vehicles all depend on a constant and reliable source of electricity. However, the growing global demand for energy and the urgency of sustainable solutions push scientists around the world to explore new technologies with low environmental impact.
In this context, a group of researchers from the universities of Brussels and Melbourne took an important step forward: they developed a Innovative electric generator that uses the triboelectric effectthat is, the production of electric charges by clutch between different materials.
A triboelectric microspheres generator
The project is the result of the collaboration between the Department of Chemical Engineering ofUniversity Libre de Brussels (ULB), in Belgium, and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), in Australia. To guide the work, the Dr. Ignaas Jimidarwhich with his team has designed a new type of triboelectric nanogenerator (Teng)using tiny plastic spheres as the main element of the system.
This device represents an evolution compared to traditional Teng. Instead of relying on overlapping flat or layers, This new model uses plastic spheres That, rubbing each other, generate electric charges. The scientific article that describes this innovation was published last February in the specialized magazine Small.
The heart of technology lies in the choice of materials. The spheres used are made in melamine-formaldehydea plastic resin with ideal properties for the triboelectric effect. Thanks to his low elasticitythis material promotes a better transfer of electric charges between the spheres. Furthermore, it is cheap, easily available and allows one dry productionthus contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions during manufacture.
Scientists observed that, when two surfaces composed of these spheres are put in contact and then separated, one generates separation of charges: Some spheres become positive, other negatives. This phenomenon, at the basis of electricity production, has been amplified thanks to the particular configuration of the spheres and the materials chosen.
The size of the spheres also influences electrical production
Another interesting figure emerged from the study concerns the size of the spheres. The analyzes conducted have shown that larger microspheres tend to accumulate negative chargeswhile the smallest ones show a mainly positive polarity. This discovery opens the way to new optimizations in the configuration of the triboelectric devices.
The possible applications of this technology are manifold: from integration into smart fabrics capable of generating energy during movement, up to portable chargers For smartphones, smart watches and other Wearable devices. However, researchers underline that further studies will be needed to improve efficiency and durability of the system before a possible large -scale commercial application.
In addition to the universities of Brussels and Melbourne, the research also participated in the researchTechnical University of Rigain Latvia, and theMesa+ Institute of the University of Twentoin the Netherlands. This international collaboration highlights the global interest in the development of New sustainable energy solutions and low cost.
