Issue link: https://cp.revolio.com/i/763374
Triboelectric Energy Harvesting In recent years, triboelectric energy harvesters, another promising method of vibration energy harvesting, have peaked interest of many researchers and experienced significant advancement in research and practice [6, 7]. Triboelectric energy harvesting is a contact electrification based method that uses two different materials, separated from one other by air or a vacuum. Upon contact, these two materials transfer electrical charge. The triboelectric effect can be seen in many materials common to packaging, and, in fact, nearly any material can participate in contact electrification. Triboelectric energy harvesters can easily be built into a myriad of structures, and therefore may be used in a package system. Both piezoelectric and triboelectric energy harvesting could potentially be used in the context of packaging due to the materials used to build them, and the flexibility of structure that is natural to both methods. This study uses triboelectric energy harvesting for three reasons: the required properties necessary for energy harvesting are inherent to the materials in triboelectric energy harvesting (i.e. corona treatment is not required), triboelectric energy harvesting has not been thoroughly explored by the scientific community, and the materials and structure used for triboelectric energy harvesting are flexible, and therefore able to be used in packaging application. Triboelectric Energy Harvesting Triboelectricity is a type of contact electrification between two different materials upon their physical interaction with one another. Contact electrification is "a process that produces surface charges on two dissimilar materials when they are contacted and separated. During this contact, each material develops a charge of opposite polarity" [9]. In the case of this research, the two materials are a sheet of aluminum (Al)-coated Polyethylene (PE) and a sheet of Teflon ® Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). An electrical charge develops when the aluminum surface contacts the PTFE surface. Upon contact, this charge transfers between the two sheets. The force of contact and number of contacts are both factors in the amount of charge that transfers over time. Therefore, a process that provides repetitive, forceful impacts between the two materials produces a maximum amount of charge between these materials. A triboelectric energy harvester is a device that uses the principle of contact electrification between two oppositely charged materials and can capture the electrical charge transferred between them. In order to consistently capture energy, there must be consistent contact and separation of these triboelectric materials. While the various shock inputs encountered in the distribution environment excite these harvesters, there is more energy harvesting potential in the broad-spectrum, vehicle vibration. 19 ista views • December 2016 • www.ista.org > MORE ON PAGE 20 Evaluate and Certify Package Product Performance Services I.S.T.A. (all projects), ASTM, NMFC, U.N./D.O.T Hazmat), GSA, Fed & Mil Spec Testing Products up to 8000 lbs. tested N Vibration N Impact shock N Compression N Material analysis/testing N Environmental Conditioning EASTERN FACILITY * ( 513 ) 870-0080 Fax: (513) 870-0017 Email: info@ghtesting.com 4090 Thunderbird Lane, Fairfield, OH 45014 gh Package and Product Testing and Consulting, Inc. ® Engineers & Technicians have been IATA trained and tested ISO 17025 accredited* WESTERN FACILITY ( 623 ) 869-8008 Fax: (623) 869-8003 Email: info @ghtesting.com 335 W. Melinda Lane, Phoenix, AZ 85027 Fully accredited to ISTA Standard 20/7E