Summary:
UCLA researchers in the Department of Bioengineering have developed an innovative wearable generator that efficiently harnesses energy from biomechanical motion and conforms to human skin.
Background:
Due to increasing prominence of wearable technology, there is a simultaneous rise in the demand for portable energy systems. Typically, solid-state battery packs are used, but many of them are bulky and require charging from external sources to provide power on-demand. Humans generate around 100 watts of power a day via biomechanical motion. While it is possible to harvest energy from this motion, current technologies, such as piezoelectricity, do not have sufficient current density to be reliably integrated into wearable circuits. Furthermore, piezoelectric generators often require additional encapsulation to protect them from sweat and humidity thus limiting their practical implementation. Therefore, there is a need for an energy generator system that can efficiently harness the energy of biomechanical motion and operate in moist environments.
Innovation:
UCLA researchers have developed a wearable generator in the form of a membrane that conforms to human skin and efficiently harnesses energy from biomechanical motion. The device utilizes a soft magnetoelastic generator (MEG) and shows ultralow impedance and high current density. This results in a 10,000-fold improvement over conventional soft piezoelectric and triboelectric generators. It does not require encapsulation to protect against moisture and sweat because the device is intrinsically stable in wet environments. In addition, the device is biocompatible, making it a suitable power source for sensors implanted in the human body. This innovation could provide a valuable new method to supply power to Internet of Things (IoT) devices in a practical and stable manner.
Potential Applications:
- Portable energy generation for wearable/IOT applications
- Energy harvesting in wet environments
- Biomechanical energy harvesting
- Self-powered biosensors
- Water-proof biosensors
- Medical electronics
- Soft robotics
Advantages:
- High current density and low impedance
- Inherently stable in wet environments
- Efficiently harness energy from biomechanical motion
- No need for weather-resistant or water-resistant protective layers
- High performance wearable/implant power source without encapsulation
Development-To-Date: Actual reduction to practice in laboratory setting