Publication

Abstract : Here in, we report on a prototype for energy harvesting from door handles for harnessing mechanical energy used during the opening and closure operation of doors. Three different morphologies of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoforms namely ZnO nanorods (ZnO R), ZnO nanocrystallite (ZnO P) and ZnO nanoneedles (ZnO W) are blended at an optimum concentration of 10% with polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) polymer. The frictional, triboelectric and converse piezoresponse of these films were studied using derived modes of atomic force microscopy. Three different structures of devices were fabricated by spin-coating, solution casting and tape casting techniques. Dispersion filler, graphite oxide (GO) nanosheets are added to the composite with superior electrical property. The device with solution casting was tested for various mechanical inputs, with and without external resistive loads connected. The device yielded an output voltage of 6.25 V on each approach-release operation. The device shows a power density of 0.73 µW/cm2 during an impact of 5 N. A laboratory prototype of door handle energy harvester was prepared on a comb electrode by tape casting the polymer nanocomposite recipe of PDMS + 10% ZnO W + 10% GO and generated a power density of 0.17 nW/cm2 by charging a 1F commercial capacitor.