Biomedical device powered by triboelectric nanogenerator

Abstract

Biomedical devices play vital roles in health monitoring. Operability of these devices is hindered by their limited battery life. In vivo monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment have become challenging. The proposed Triboelectric Nanogenerator helps in overcoming the shackles of battery life. This article describes the process involved in the development of a healthcare device powered by triboelectric effect. In this work a contact-separation mode based triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has been used to power the device. TENG uses triboelectric phenomenon to transform mechanical energy into electrical energy. A contact-separation mode TENG operates through the interaction of two triboelectric materials. These materials act as an anode and a cathode, respectively, and develop opposite charges when brought into contact. Upon separation, the charged surfaces retain their individual charges, creating a potential difference between the materials. This difference generates an electrostatic field that drives the flow of electrons from one electrode to the other. As the electrons return, the field collapses, and the materials come back into contact, repeating the cycle. The device has been used to power a heart rate monitoring system. Experimental results demonstrate the output performance and long-term durability of the TENG device. Furthermore, future research, challenges and opportunities have been elaborated.

Keywords

• Biomedical devices
• Triboelectric nanogenerator
• Self-powered healthcare devices
• Contact-separation motion
• Heart rate monitoring system