Energy Harvesting & Storage Systems
Energy Harvesting
Next generation technologies, such as the IoT and 5G technology, create a digitally connected world, which improves the standard of life of people, particularly health, productivity, and communication. Small electronic devices such as sensors, actuators, and wireless transmitters have been integrated into day to day objects around us, including the human body, buildings, biochemical detection, environmental protection, security etc. Powering these electronics with the required complexity and mobility remains one of the key challenges.
Nanogenerators emerge as the leading candidates as a potential energy source for powering autonomous IoT applications. Our particular focus are triboelectric and hybrid nanogenerators. Triboelectric technology depends on the conjunction of triboelectrification and electrostatic induction through the relative sliding or contact/separation between two materials that possess opposite tribopolarity. Hybrid nanotechnology harvest the same kind of energy by simultaneously using multiple types of generators based on different working mechanisms. A hybridized mechanical (biomechanical)-energy-harvesting technology enhance the overall power output.
Energy Storage
Recent advances in development of miniaturized electronic devices has increased the demand for energy systems with optimized capacity, cycle life, power, and environmental impact. Energy storage devices have been identified as important electronic components for environmental and sustainable protection and efficient energy development and storage. Sustainable energy research has led to development of novel energy storage systems, particularly for the utilization of renewable energy. A promising solution to address this challenge is the development of efficient electrochemical energy storage systems like batteries and supercapacitors.
Supercapacitors as high-performance energy storage devices are particularly important for building a micropower system, which would power up portable and wearable devices for a long time without maintenance. Their main advantages are portability, low environmental impact, flexibility, stability, safety, light-weight, high power density, and long cycle life. Our focus is on developing ultra-thin solid-state and flexible microsupercapacitors.
Projects:
1. III 44006 Development of new information and communication technologies, based on advanced mathematical methods, with applications in medicine, telecommunications, power systems, protection of national heritage and education, Ministry of Education, Science, and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia
2. 2016 – 2017 Wearable electronics for application in precision agriculture, the Provincial Secretariat for Science and Technological Development of Vojvodina, Serbia, Grant 114-451-555/2016-02.