Membranous Energy Harvester with Tuning Capability for Flexible Electronics

柔性电子产品正在成为可穿戴和植入式身体传感器网络（BSNs）的一个有前途的新平台。然而，BSNs的实际效用受到电子设备有限的电池寿命的影响。这项研究的目的是通过开发一种膜状和可调的能量收集策略来利用人体的生物机械能，该策略保留了与生物电子学相结合的灵活性和可拉伸性。该研究的成功完成将弥合柔性电子和可持续能源之间的差距，并导致BSNs的使用和性能最大化。所提出的工作将提供基本的理解和系统的研究，可以解决在开发可持续和柔性电子产品时出现的电源问题。一项综合教育和推广计划将(1)促进能源材料和柔性电子界面多学科研究的科学技术发展；(2)提供加强K-12 STEM项目的机会；(3)扩大代表性不足群体的研究参与。为了充分利用人体内的生物力学能源，克服目前创造柔性电子系统的障碍，拟议的研究将：(1)利用先进的聚合物能源材料来提高能量收集性能；(2)开发固态调谐策略以实现最大功率输出；(3)实现一种为电子设备供电的自我可持续系统。这些成就将使bsn中的膜状能量收集技术转化为柔性电子系统的电源解决方案的长期目标成为可能。研究成果将推进材料和能源科学应用的工程基础知识，这将导致BSN应用的创新和改进。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Flexible electronics are emerging as a promising new platform for wearable and implantable body sensor networks (BSNs). However, the practical utility of BSNs is compromised by the limited battery life of the electronic devices. The objective of this research is to harness the biomechanical energy of the human body by developing a membranous and tunable energy harvesting strategy that retains flexibility and stretchability to be integrated with bioelectronics. Successful completion of the research will bridge the gap between flexible electronics and sustainable energy, and result in the maximization of the use and performance of BSNs. The proposed work will provide fundamental understanding and systematic studies that can solve the power issues that arise when developing sustainable and flexible electronics. An integration of education and outreach plan will (1) promote the development of science and technology for multidisciplinary research at the interface of energy materials and flexible electronics; (2) provide opportunities to strengthen K-12 programs in STEM; and (3) broaden the research participation of underrepresented groups.To take full advantage of biomechanical energy sources in the human body and overcome current obstacles to creating flexible electronic systems, the proposed research will: (1) leverage advanced polymeric-based energy materials to enhance energy harvesting performance; (2) develop solid-state tuning strategies to achieve the maximum power output; and (3) implement a self-sustainable system for powering electronic devices. These achievements will enable a long-term goal of translating the membranous energy harvesting technology in BSNs to revolutionize power solutions for flexible electronic systems. The research findings will advance knowledge of engineering fundamentals in applications of materials and energy science that will lead to innovations and improvements in BSN applications.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.