• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.205-215
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• 2019

A flexible polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite prototype with high piezoelectricity and force sensitivity was constructed, and its huge potential for applications such as biomechanical energy harvesting, self-powered health monitoring system, and pressure sensors was proved. The crystallization, piezoelectric, and electrical properties of the composites were characterized using an X-ray diffraction (XRD) experiment and customized experimental setups. The composite can sustain up to 100% strain, which is a huge improvement over monolithic PVDF fibers and other PVDF-based composites in the literature. The Young's modulus is 1.64 MPa, which is closely matched with the flexibility of the human skin, and shows the possibility for integrating PVDF/PDMS composites into wearable devices and implantable medical devices. The $300{\mu}m$ thick composite has a 14% volume fraction of PVDF fibers and produces high piezoelectricity with piezoelectric charge constants $d_{31}=19pC/N$ and $d_{33}=34pC/N$, and piezoelectric voltage constants $g_{31}=33.9mV/N$ and $g_{33}=61.2mV/N$. Under a 10 Hz actuation, the output voltage was measured at 190 mVpp, which is the largest output signal generated from a PVDF fiber-based prototype.

• Composites Research
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.357-372
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• 2021

The energy harvesting device is known to be promising as an alternative to solve the resource shortage caused by the depletion of petroleum resources. In order to overcome the limitations (environmental pollution and low mechanical properties) of piezoelectric elements capable of converting mechanical motion into electrical energy, many studies have been conducted on a polymer matrix-based composite piezoelectric energy harvesting device. In this paper, the output performance and related applications of the reported piezoelectric composites are reviewed based on the applied materials and processes. As for the piezoelectric fillers, zinc oxide, which is advantageous in terms of eco-friendliness, biocompatibility, and flexibility, as well as ceramic fillers based on lead zirconate titanate and barium titanate, were reviewed. The polymer matrix was classified into piezoelectric polymers composed of polyvinylidene fluoride and copolymers, and flexible polymers based on epoxy and polydimethylsiloxane, to discuss piezoelectric synergy of composite materials and improvement of piezoelectric output by high external force application, respectively. In addition, the effect of improving the conductivity or the mechanical properties of composite material by the application of a metal or carbon-based secondary filler on the output performance of the piezoelectric harvesting device was explained in terms of the structure of the composite material. Composite material-based piezoelectric harvesting devices, which can be applied to small electronic devices, smart sensors, and medicine with improved performance, can provide potential insights as a power source for wireless electronic devices expected to be encountered in future daily life.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.139-145
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• 2015

In this paper, the flexible piezoelectric nanocomposite generator(NCG) device based on $BaTiO_3$ nanostructures was fabricated via simple and low-cost spin coating method. The $BaTiO_3$ nanostructures synthesized by self-assembly reaction showed dendrite morphologies. To produce the piezoelectric nanocomposite(p-NC layer) which acts as an electric energy source in NCG device, the piezoelectric nanopowders($BaTiO_3$) were dispersed in polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS). Sequently, the p-NC layer was inserted in two dielectric layer of PDMS; these layers enabled the NCG device flexibility as well as durability prohibiting detachment(exfoliation) for significantly mechanical bending motions. The fabricated NCG device shows average maximum open circuit voltage of 6.2 V and average maximum current signals of 300 nA at 20 wt% composition of $BaTiO_3$ nanostructures in p-NC layer. Finally, the flexible energy harvester generates stable output signals at any rate of frequency which were used to operate LCD device without any external energy supply.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.473-480
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• 2018

In 2012, a new energy capturing method called TENG was suggested for energy harvesting applications. The TENG which captures electric energy in forms of friction or vibration has been researched as a new energy harvesting generation device. However, TENG works on rather high voltage and yields relatively low current, and this requires additional energy conversion and saving methods with either in semiconductive elements or circuitry for its application. Irregular generation from vibration sources rattle under 5Hz especially requires empirical studies. In this article, we suggest a electricity generation platform with energy storage methods. The platform is mounted on large sized animals, and the generation is actively monitored and controlled via Bluetooth-Low Energy to verify the platform.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.25-38
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• 2021

The aim of this study is to protect workers and pedestrians from accidents at night or bad weather by attaching optical fiber to existing safety clothing that is made only with fluorescent fabrics and retroreflective materials. A safety vest was designed and manufactured by applying optical fiber, and energy-harvesting technology was developed. The safety vest was designed to emit light using the automatic flashing of optical fibers attached to the film, and an energy harvester was manufactured and attached to drive the light emission of the optical fiber more continuously. As a result, first, the vest wearer' body was recognized from a distance through the optical fiber and retroreflection, which helped prevent accidents. Thus, this concept helps in saving lives by preventing accidents during night-time work on the roadside or activities of rescue crew and sports activities, or by quickly finding the point of an accident with a signal that changes the optical fiber light emission. Second, to use the wasted energy, a piezoelectric-element power generation system was developed and the piezoelectric-harvesting device was mounted. Potentially, energy was efficiently produced by activating the effective charging amount of the battery part and charging it auxiliary. In the existing safety vest, detecting the person wearing the vest is almost impossible in the absence of ambient light. However, in this study, the wearer could be found within 100 m by the light emission from the safety vest even with no ambient light. Therefore, in this study, we will help in preventing and reducing accidents by developing smart safety clothing using optical fiber and energy harvester attached to save lives.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
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• 1996.06c
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• pp.458-468
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• 1996

The Oil Palm industry has developed tremendously with the increasing of planted area from 54,000 hectaresin 1960 to about 2.28 million hectares in 1995. This is expected to increase further to 2.5 million hectares by the year 2000. However, there has been an increasing difficulty in obtaining sufficient labour for the oil palm plantations. At present , harvesting of oil palm fresh fruit is facing an acute shortage of workforce as the workers are much more attracted to the better working environment and salary in the industrial sector. Harvesting of short palm is easily done by using a chisel attached to a short steel pole. Cutting is done by moving the tool at high speed to the target. The weight of the tool coupled with the speed of throwing will produce enough energy to cut the bunch stalk. In this cutting method, sharpness of the cutting device, weight of tool and the speed of throwing contribute to the efficiency of the tool . For the tall palms, a sickle attached to a ong pole is used and the job is more difficult compared to the short palms. Lifting of pole and cutting jobs require great effort and skills. This paper describes the basic design needs in developing an appropriate device that is practical for field use. A prototype design was developed and tested.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2009.10a
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• pp.202-203
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• 2009

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2013.04a
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• pp.204-205
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• 2013

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2013.10a
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• pp.146-147
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• 2013

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.198-203
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• 2013

Energy harvesting refers to converting ambient energy from our surroundings, which would be otherwise wasted, into useful electrical energy. A triboelectric energy harvester is a self-charged device for harnessing mechanical energy based on a coupled process of contact charging and electrostatic induction. In this research, we demonstrate simple fabrication of prototype triboelectric energy harvester using soft lithography and its electrical characterization. Triboelectric generation occurs between the two micro patterned layers of Au and PDMS. A micro pattern is simply replicated directly from the bottom layer to the top layer using soft-lithography without an extra transfer process. This generator can produce an output voltage of 2 V and output current of 20 nA.