Investigation and optimisation of a design-for-manufacture deposition method for single layer graphene
Academic Institution: The University of the West of Scotland
Industry Partner: RD Graphene Ltd
Academic Supervisor: Prof Des Gibson/Dr Carlos Garcia Nunez
PhD Student: Emma Keel
Summary
This project aims to build an experimental system at the Institute of Thin Films, Sensors, and Imaging (University of the West of Scotland), that could synthesise 3D graphene foam (3DG) at room temperature and directly on flexible substrates.
This is an ambitious investigation aiming to control electronic properties of 3DG through a revolutionary growth method developed and registered by Integrated Graphene Ltd. The project also focusses on the use of this advanced material in Internet of Things (IoT) devices and portable energy systems. This material exhibits properties such as high porosity, lightweight, high surface area, high electrical conductivity, and large mechanical strength, which make 3DG an excellent candidate not only for energy harvesting and storing devices but also for sensors and electronics. In this regard, 3DG is used in this work as active layer in triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG), being electronic devices capable to transform mechanical energy (e.g., vibrations) intro large amounts of electricity.
The investigation involves a comprehensive study of the output power generated by the 3DG based TENG as a function of the mechanical vibration characteristics (i.e., amplitude, and frequency), as well as their integration with external circuits. The success of the project and the great scalability of TENG will provide society future energy solutions not only to power small devices and sensors but also to drive larger vehicles and more power-hungry technology.
In today’s world, a vast array of electronic devices and sensors across various sectors, such as healthcare monitoring, smart buildings, and manufacturing, rely on energy to operate. With the growing number of such devices, the demand for energy is increasing. However, with the high cost of electricity and energy consumption necessitates, alternative green energy sources are needed to make technology be more sustainable and less impactful on the planet.
Mechanical energy is in our everyday surroundings and often gets ignored, this energy is wasted in our daily actions such as walking, typing, breathing and heart beating. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) are an exciting technology that can be used to harvest mechanical energy in low frequency vibrations as expressed in the examples above. This makes TENG suitable for implementation in technologies such as self-power sensing platforms, environmental monitoring, robotics, and wearable electronics. The application for the 3DG-TENG was tested as:
- An energy source to charge energy storage devices.
As an active device to sense pressure without the use of an external power source.
Key Results/Outcomes
Successful design, fabrication, and characterisation of TENGs based on 3DG.
Simulation and modelling of 3DG as triboelectric layer using distance dependent model.
Successful use of 3DG TENG for charging energy storage devices.
Probe of power density record values produced by a 3DG based TENG.
Successful development of a piezoresistive pressure sensor mat, including monitoring software.
Demonstration of fully autonomy feature in a pressure sensing mat.
Successful recognition of people walking on the mat for anonymous occupancy monitoring.
Publications
Emma Keel, Ammara Ejaz, Michael Mckinlay, Manuel Pelayo, Marco Caffio, Desmon Gibson, and Carlos Garcia Nuñez, “Three-dimensional graphene foam based triboelectric nanogenerators for energy systems and autonomous sensors” Nano Energy (under review, March 2023).
Conferences
Emma Keel, Marco Caffio, Prof Des Gibson, Dr Carlos Garcia Nuñez “Exploring the use of 3D Graphene foam for Internet of Things sensing devices”, poster presentation SRPe Annual Conference (November 2022, Edinburgh - UK)
Emma Keel, Marco Caffio, Prof Des Gibson, Dr Carlos Garcia Nuñez “Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG): A new technology to harvest mechanical energy wasted in the environment.”, live demo at name of the event (May 2023, Glasgow - UK)
Emma Keel, Marco Caffio, Prof Des Gibson, Dr Carlos Garcia Nuñez, “Three-dimensional graphene foam for energy harvesting devices”, live demo at name of the event (May 2023, Palermo - Italy)
Contact Information
Emma Keel
PhD student, University of the West of Scotland
Professor Des Gibson
Professor, Institute of Thin Films & Lasers, School of Computing, Engineering & Physical Sciences, The University of the West of Scotland.
Dr Carlos Garcia Nunez
Lecturer, School of Computing, Engineering & Physical Sciences, Univerity of the West of Scotland.