THE SCHOOL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Under the provisions of the regulations for the degree

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

on Wednesday, October 30, 2019

1:00 PM
in IPST 114

will be held the

DISSERTATION PROPOSAL DEFENSE

for

Steven Zhang

"Triboelectric Nanogerators for Energy Harvesting, Self-Powered Sensing, and High Voltage Applications"

Committee Members:

Prof. Zhong Lin Wang, Advisor, MSE

Prof. Meilin Liu, MSE

Prof. Zhiqun Lin, MSE

Prof. Preet Singh, MSE

Prof. Husam N. Alshareef, Physical Science and Engineering Division, KAUST

Abstract:

As we are currently entering an age of Internet of Things (IOTs), where electronic devices are able to perceive, interpret, and judge for themselves, intensive research efforts are needed on fabricating energy sources to power these electronic devices and on developing different sensor networks. Currently, different methods, such as using solar, thermal, nuclear, and mechanical motions, have been used to harvest the energy required to power these sensors. For the latter, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), which are developed in Professor Zhong Lin Wang’s group in 2012, is one of the best choices to harvest mechanical vibrations, due to triboelectrification is an universal and ubiquitous effect with an abundant choice of materials. Also, not only the TENG could be used as an energy harvester, it could also be used as a self-powered active sensor, which is able to sense different mechanical motions, expanding its ability to operate as a sensing network. Furthermore, TENG, due to its high voltage characteristics, it has been utilized in various high voltage applications recently. In this thesis proposal, three main works are focused: the first is to use TENG as a more selective and sensitive self-powered active sensor through the use of signal processing and machine learning algorithms, the second is to expand the use of TENGs to harvest more effectively in harsh environments, the third is to use TENG as a high voltage novel applications and to achieve higher instantaneous power density. \