More than 60
research groups worldwide are now developing variations
of the
triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). Shown in this image is a collection
of the devices.
(Credit: Rob Felt, Georgia Tech)
(September 25, 2015) More
than 60 research groups worldwide are now developing variations of the
triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), which converts ambient mechanical energy
into electricity for powering wearable electronics, sensor networks,
implantable medical devices and other small systems.
To provide a means for both comparing and selecting these
energy-harvesting nanogenerators for specific applications, the Georgia
Institute of Technology research group that pioneered the TENG technology has
now proposed a set of standards for quantifying device performance. The
proposal evaluates both the structural and materials performance of the four
major types of TENG devices.
“Triboelectric nanogenerators are a new energy technology
that has shown phenomenal potential,” said Zhong Lin Wang, a Regents professor
in the Georgia Tech School of Materials Science and Engineering. “Here, we have
proposed standards by which the performance of these devices can be quantified
and compared. These standards will be useful for academic researchers
developing the devices and for future industrial applications of the
nanogenerators.”