TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY New triboelectric device design principles for applications in sensors, power generation and energy harvesting

Opportunity:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract no. DE-AC52-07NA27344 (Contract 44) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to enter into a collaboration to further develop and commercialize its new triboelectric device design principles for applications in sensors, power generation and energy harvesting.

Background:

Energy harvesting is an important aspect of energy efficiency. In various applications it can reduce the amount of energy required for a process or energize a device where access to power is limited or nonexistent. Of mechanical energy harvesting technologies, piezoelectrics are most widely used.  Triboelectricity uses two materials with opposite properties such that when the two materials come into frictional contact with each other, surface electrons are passed from one material (donator) to the other (receiver) and remain there while in contact. When the two materials are pulled away from each other, a voltage potential is created as some of the electrons remain on the surface of the receiver material. When the materials are shorted, the movement of those surface electrons back to their parent material drives current. Most triboelectric devices rely on an air gap between the two materials to create the voltage potential.

The challenge to harvesting the energy in this manner is the existence of the air gap, which reduces the utility of these devices and constrains their application.  Because air is an insulator, the electron balance cannot equalize, and the surfaces of the materials become charged.

Description:

The two primary methods for actuating triboelectric (mechanical/friction) devices are contact separation and lateral sliding.  Rather than an air gap to separate the contacts and sliding, LLNL researchers have conceived of a flexible, self-contained triboelectric device that can be compressed.  The key to the invention is the dual function of a flexible, compressive material that fills in the space between the two triboelectric materials.  When this sandwiched device is pressed together, the spacer will allow the two triboelectric materials to be brought into proximity that then instigates the transfer of electrons; once the compression source is removed, the spacer will then provide a restorative force to separate the two materials, once again creating the voltage potential.

Promising spacer materials would be elastomeric, porous, capable of being compressed, and capable of creating its own restorative force when the compression source is removed.  The spacer material must be sufficiently non-conductive, which allows the charge imbalance to occur between the two triboelectric materials without the air gap.  By selecting the optimal material, the spacer would potentially take up less volume than a standard triboelectric device, yet the compact device would still be capable of generating the same amount of power.

Advantages/Benefits: 

This invention can potentially:

• Reduce the volume of the triboelectric device to a thin film 
• Improves mechanical robustness of the device
• Longer lifetimes

Potential Applications: 

1. Power generating: triboelectric fibers for sustainable, environmentally-friendly energy source for wearable applications
2. Energy harvesting: air-gapless triboelectric devices used to collect waste/ambient energy from mechanical systems or harvest energy from green sources such as wind or water.
3. Sensor applications: a thin film triboelectric device could be applied to surfaces of materials to record touch (force) or impact.

Development Status: 

Current stage of technology development:  TRL 2

LLNL has filed for patent protection on this invention.

U.S. Patent Application No. 2022/0255463 Artificial Air Gap Triboelectric Device For Applications In Sensors, Power Generation And Energy Harvesting published 8/11/2022

LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information. 

Please visit the IPO website at https://ipo.llnl.gov/resources for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process.

Note:  THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT.  Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's new triboelectric device design principles for applications in sensors, power generation and energy harvesting should provide an electronic OR written statement of interest, which includes the following:

1. Company Name and address.
2. The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact.
3. A description of corporate expertise and/or facilities relevant to commercializing this technology.

Please provide a complete electronic OR written statement to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's new triboelectric device design principles for applications in sensors, power generation and energy harvesting.

The subject heading in an email response should include the Notice ID and/or the title of LLNL’s Technology/Business Opportunity and directed to the Primary and Secondary Point of Contacts listed below.

Written responses should be directed to:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Innovation and Partnerships Office

P.O. Box 808, L-779

Livermore, CA  94551-0808

Attention:   IL-13603