Self-Healing and Biodegradable Energy Device Unveiled by DGIST Researchers

Self-Healing and Biodegradable Energy Device Unveiled by DGIST Researchers
by Riko Seibo
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Aug 05, 2024

A team led by Professor Lee Joo-hyuk from the Department of Energy Engineering at DGIST (President Lee Kunwoo) has pioneered an ionic polyurethane-based triboelectric generator with self-healing and biodegradable properties. This innovative device is designed to minimize environmental impact while boosting power output performance through the use of ionic liquid. It holds promise as a sustainable power source for next-generation soft electronics and wearable devices.

In recent years, research on triboelectric generators, which convert kinetic energy into electrical energy through friction, has gained momentum as a future power source. High durability and stable power production are crucial for these devices, which must also be capable of self-healing from mechanical damage caused by continuous friction. Eco-friendly technology that allows the device to decompose with microorganisms and return to nature after its functionality ends adds further value by minimizing environmental harm.

Professor Lee's team has developed a polyurethane-based triboelectric generator that is environmentally friendly and suitable for next-generation energy needs. The research team employed imidazolium ions for self-healing functions and high electro-positive properties and used polycaprolactone (PCL)-based polyurethane to create the biodegradable "ionic polyurethane."

Due to its self-healing, biodegradable, and high electro-positive characteristics, the ionic polyurethane efficiently produces electrical energy and serves as a sustainable power source for next-generation soft electronic devices, significantly reducing environmental pollution.

The team verified the device's superiority by analyzing its power output under various conditions. The ionic polyurethane-based device demonstrated a power density of up to 436.8 mW/m and a self-healing efficiency of approximately 90%. Additionally, after 300 days of biodegradation, only about 21% of the device's initial mass remained.

"Through this research, we have developed an efficient material that integrates self-healing and biodegradation functions, while maintaining high power output performance," said Prof. Lee Joo-hyuk from the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, DGIST. "This innovative technology can provide a sustainable power source for next-generation wearable devices, and in our follow-up research, we will endeavor to commercialize the technology."

The research was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), and the results were published in "Nano Energy," a prestigious international journal in the field of energy engineering.