Unexplored Uses of Static Electricity

Static electricity is an imbalance of electric charges within or on the surface of a material. It is one of the most common forms of power generation. We have all experienced instances wherein we have felt the effects of static electricity. When we walk around on a carpeted floor and then we grab a metal door knob, we often suffer a quick shock.

This is static electricity in action. We know that all objects around us consist of atoms. An atom contains of a nucleus (consisting of protons and electrons). When we rub objects against each other, some of the objects lose electrons where on the other hand some gain electrons. The building up of the excess charge when one body comes in contact with the other is called as static electricity. The building of this charge is a temporary process. Lately, the researchers have been trying to make use of this energy for our electronic devices. It is important in the first place to understand the driving force behind this phenomenon. The research has received a support of $400,000 National Science Foundation grant. The research is being conducted under the guidance of Chen and Zayd Leseman, PhD, associate professor of mechanical and nuclear engineering at Kansas State University. The finding of the research is aimed to help the technology companies to develop long lasting and more reliable sources of power for smaller electronic devices. The triboelectric effect is known since a long time but the tools for understanding and applying the phenomenon were absent. With the advent of nanotechnology, it has become possible to study, understand and apply the triboelectric effect. The triboelectric effect is one through which one body gets charged upon rubbing against another one. The research conducted is a mixture of varied disciplines, such as contact mechanics, solid mechanics, materials science, electrical engineering and manufacturing. The team of researchers is engineering triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), with the help of computer models and physical experiments. The TENGs have a potential to control and harvest static electricity. Everyday incidents such as friction between your fingers and your smartphone screen; friction between your wrist and smartwatch and friction between your shoe and the ground are all great sources of energy that can be used. The research is aimed at improving economic security and at the same time decreasing the need for conventional sources of power.

By: Anuja Arora                                             

Content: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190125120117.htm