TENG-NISPW: Triboelectric Nanogenerator based on Nanomaterial Inks for Self-Powered weighing

In the development of wearable and flexible electronics, the demanding requirements for ultrathin, lightweight, and textile interfaced wearable sensor systems create challenges in power supply and in designs for low power operation. To date, most portable and wearable electronic devices are powered by conventional electrochemical Li-ion batteries, which are extremely restricted in their lifetime, sustainable operation, and environmental issues.

There is a need to develop manufacturing processes that easily translate from prototyping to production and back whenever there is a need for customizing the technology. There is also a need for materials that would enable these technologies to be scaled up so that they became real products rather than prototypes or proofs-of-concept.

TENG-NISPW will address cutting-edge research in material science, engineering, and physics, which will rely on the realization of TENG based on conductive nanomaterial inks. TENG-NISPW will take advantage of the precision with which 2D-TMDCs can be tailored by ink routes, and from the versatility with which their surface functionalities can further influence their electrical properties.

This project has the ambition to transform the scenario of wearable energy technologies by developing a conceptually new class of high performance TENG. This breakthrough will exploit an unexplored synergy of 2D-TMDCs and device design drawing on flexible substrates. In particular, this proposal explores for the first time the combination of (i) novel fabrication methods with (ii) conceptually innovative functionalization and (iii) unprecedented device geometries.

We will exploit solution-processable routes to deposit 2DTMDCs and surface engineering to further influence their electrical properties.