Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 10, 2026
07:13
Nanostructured Ag-zeolite Composites as Luminescence-based Humidity Sensors
Published on: November 15, 2016
10.6K
Biocompatible Collagen Nanofibrils: An Approach for Sustainable Energy Harvesting and Battery-Free Humidity Sensor
Venkateswaran Vivekananthan1, Nagamalleswara Rao Alluri1, Yuvasree Purusothaman1
1Nanomaterials & System Lab, Department of Mechatronics Engineering , Jeju National University , Engineering Building No:-4, D-130, Ara-1-Dong , Jeju-Si, Jeju-Do, Jeju 63243 , South Korea.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|May 11, 2018
Summary
A new eco-friendly, self-powered humidity sensor uses piezoelectric collagen nanofibrils on cotton fabric. This sustainable biopolymer sensor harvests energy and reliably measures relative humidity, paving the way for smart bio-medical devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biotechnology
- Sensor Technology
Background:
- Conventional ceramic/oxide humidity sensors (HSs) face limitations regarding environmental impact and power requirements.
- There is a growing need for self-powered, sustainable, and eco-friendly humidity sensing solutions, particularly for smart sensor applications.
- Piezoelectric nanogenerators (PNGs) offer a promising avenue for developing self-powered devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a self-powered, piezoelectric biopolymer-based humidity sensor (HS) with enhanced sensitivity, reliability, and eco-friendly characteristics.
- To explore the dual functionality of a collagen nanofibril biopolymer for both energy harvesting and humidity sensing.
- To investigate the potential of this novel material for sustainable and greener smart sensor applications.
Main Methods:
- A piezoelectric collagen nanofibril biopolymer was coated onto a cotton fabric to create a multifunctional material.
- The fabricated material was tested as a piezoelectric nanogenerator (PNG) to evaluate its energy harvesting capabilities under mechanical stress.
- The material's performance as a humidity sensor was assessed by measuring its response to varying percentages of relative humidity (% RH).
Main Results:
- The collagen PNG demonstrated dual functionality, capable of both energy harvesting and humidity sensing.
- The device generated a maximum output of 45 V/250 nA under a 5 N force, indicating efficient energy harvesting.
- The humidity sensor exhibited a linear response and good sensitivity (0.1287 μA/% RH) within the 50-90% RH range.
Conclusions:
- The developed piezoelectric biopolymer humidity sensor offers a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to conventional sensors.
- The material's ability to harvest energy and sense humidity highlights its potential for multifunctional applications.
- These findings open new possibilities for eco-friendly nanomaterials in the development of noninvasive, implantable smart bio-medical systems.
Related Concept Videos
01:43Sustainable Development
15.2K
As the human population continues to grow and use resources, we must be mindful of our planet’s natural limits. Sustainable development provides a pathway to maintain and improve human life now while also ensuring that future generations will have the resources that they need. The long-term success of sustainability efforts rests on understanding the interplay between human actions and ecological systems.
15.2K
03:12Batteries and Fuel Cells
31.0K
A battery is a galvanic cell that is used as a source of electrical power for specific applications. Modern batteries exist in a multitude of forms to accommodate various applications, from tiny button batteries such as those that power wristwatches to the very large batteries used to supply backup energy to municipal power grids. Some batteries are designed for single-use applications and cannot be recharged (primary cells), while others are based on conveniently reversible cell reactions that...
31.0K
01:12Conservation of Energy: Application
8.3K
When solving problems using the energy conservation law, the object (system) to be studied should first be identified. Often, in applications of energy conservation, we study more than one body at the same time. Second, identify all forces acting on the object and determine whether each force doing work is conservative. If a non-conservative force (e.g., friction) is doing work, then mechanical energy is not conserved. The system must then be analyzed with non-conservative work. Third, for...
8.3K
01:04Application of the Energy Equation
1.2K
The application of the energy equation to centrifugal pumps is a fundamental principle in fluid dynamics and engineering. In this scenario, the energy equation is used to calculate the flow rate of a centrifugal pump responsible for transferring water between two reservoirs at different elevations. The pump applies an energy input of 7500 joules per second, and the vertical difference between the lower and upper reservoirs is 10 meters. Additionally, the head loss due to friction and other...
1.2K
01:21DC Battery
1.3K
A conductor needs to be a component of a path that creates a closed loop or full circuit to have a continuous current flowing through it. A current starts to flow if an electric field is created inside an isolated conductor that is not part of a full circuit. The conductor quickly develops a net positive charge at one end and a net negative charge at the other. These charges generate an electric field opposite the direction of the applied electric field, which reduces the current. Eventually,...
1.3K
04:10What is Energy?
59.4K
The universe is composed of matter in different forms, and all forms of matter contain energy. The different forms of energy on Earth originate from the Sun — the ultimate energy source. Plants capture light energy from the Sun, and, via the process of photosynthesis, convert it into chemical energy. This stored energy from plants can be harnessed in many ways. For example, eating plant products as food provides energy for our body to function, and burning wood or coal (fossilized...
59.4K