Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Flexible Tactile Sensors

Abstract: Flexible tactile sensors have attracted much attention for their potential applications in health monitoring, wearable devices, electronic skin and smart robots, etc. With the rapid development of Internet of things, considering the large number and small scale of sensors, power consumption also plays a significant role in influencing their large-scale application. A new generation of self-powered tactile sensor based on triboelectric nanogenerator has been developed in terms of its incomparable advantages in power consumption and potential performance. Based on the coupling effect of contact-electrification and electrostatic induction, it enables to obtain the information on the mechanical input, e.g., magnitude and frequency, by analysing electrical output signals. Intensive efforts have been devoted to improve the sensing performance of triboelectric tactile sensor to meet the demand of the practicality. In this talk, the key advancements in materials, structures and applications of flexible triboelectric sensors will be systematically introduced. Then, the theoretical basis, impact mechanism and the approaches to optimize the pressure sensing performance will be comprehensively analysed. Afterwards, I will summarize the typical applications of triboelectric tactile sensors in different pressure ranges and working frequencies. Finally, the future perspectives of flexible triboelectric tactile sensor and microsystem will also be discussed.

Bio: Dr. Zhen Wen is a professor in the Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, China. He received his B.S. degree in Materials Science and Engineering from China University of Mining and Technology in 2011 and Ph.D. degree in Materials Physics and Chemistry from Zhejiang University in 2016. During 2014~2016, he was supported by the program of China Scholarship Council as a joint Ph.D. candidate in Georgia Institute of Technology, US. He has joined Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University since Sep. 2016. His main research interests focus on triboelectric nanogenerator based energy harvesting and self-powered sensing system. So far, he has published more than 110 peer-reviewed papers as the first or corresponding author, including 3 papers in Nature/Science Series Journal, 2 ESI Hot Articles and 13 Highly Cited Papers, and 18 papers selected as the front/back cover article. The whole citation is more than 15000 with the h-index of 66. He has also been authorized 38 invention patents, and 10 of them have achieved technology transfer. He was granted by 2023 Nanoenergy Advances Award, Nanomaterials 2023 Young Investigator Award, Microsystem & Nanoengineer Summit 2022 Young Scientist Award.

Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=55757787700

Renewable Energy Harvesting and Smart Sensing Technology Based on New Mechanism and Nanomaterials

Abstract: Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), a recently emerging technology that is based on the combination of triboelectrication and electrostatic induction, has been found to be a promising solution to harvest large amounts of underutilized and low-frequency mechanical energy and convert them to electricity. Our recent research interest mainly focuses on the design and fabrication of high-performance TENGs for energy harvesting and self-powered sensing. In this presentation, I will firstly introduce a couple of recent achievements regarding highly flexible and deformable TENGs based on different kinds of electrodes, including geometrically designed rigid electrode, liquid electrode and 3D printed compressible electrode, etc. Then, I would like to present the combination of TENGs with other functional devices, such as supercapacitor for self-charging powered package, solar cell or electromagnet generator for large-scale energy harvesting, as well as photoanodes for self- powered photoelectrochemical water splitting system. Lastly, I will illustrate two different concepts of TENG based self-powered sensing, including TENGs as the active sensors for detecting the static and dynamic processes arising from mechanical motion, and impedance matching effect between TENGs and traditional sensors which induced self-powered sensing process.

Bio: Xuhui Sun received his B. Sc. and M. Sc. degrees in chemistry from Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, in 1993 and 1996, respectively, and Ph.D. degree in material science from the City University of Hong Kong in 2002. He performed postdoctoral research at University of Western Ontario in 2003 and joined NASA Ames Research Center in 2005 as a research scientist. Before joined Institute of Nano Functional & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University in 2009 as a professor, he was a research scientist at Advanced Studies Lab, NASA Ames Research Center. His research interests are focused in the area of the nanomaterials and their applications in nanoelectronics, sensors and energy harvesting. He has published over 250 papers in high-impact journals such as J. Am. Chem. Soc., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., Adv. Mater., Nat. Commun., ACS Nano, Chem. Rev., etc. and held 5 US patents and 60 Chinese patents. His publications have been cited over 13000 times and H-index is 70. He is a senior member of IEEE and has served associate editor of IEEE Transaction on Nanotechnology and editor board member of Frontiers in Materials, Nanomaterials. He has been PI or co-PI of a number of projects from the nation key research program, the national high-tech R&D Program and National Science Foundation of China (NSFC). In 2014, he founded Suzhou Huiwen Nanotechnology Co., Ltd., serving as the chairman and chief scientist. The company focuses on the R&D and production of advanced gas and flexible force sensors and has built a production line capable of manufacturing 10 million gas sensors annually. It has also developed a commercialized portable artificial olfactory platform.

Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=15137600000

Molecular Engineering of Functional Materials for Energy Conversion

Abstract: Given that our quality of life is deeply intertwined with the accessibility of energy, the persistent energy crisis looms as a formidable threat in the foreseeable future. Energy scarcity stands as one of the primary global challenges, underscoring the imperative to seek out alternative renewable energy sources. A pivotal frontier in this quest lies in the conversion of solar energy into chemical fuels, particularly hydrogen, via solar-driven photocatalytic reactions. This field has experienced a surge of breakthroughs, marked by the emergence of functional organic molecules as potent photosensitizers for harnessing solar irradiance. Through meticulous refinement of their chemical compositions, with innovative approaches like the incorporation of starburst and/or di-anchoring structures, these materials & chemical and physical traits can be finely tuned to craft the most efficacious substances for solar-to-hydrogen applications. This presentation aims to offer insight into this domain, spotlighting the foundational principles of structural design in organic photosensitizers and illuminating their present-day utilization. The discussion will also cover the use of functional molecular materials in optoelectronics, photovoltaics, and nanotechnology.

Bio: Cheuk-Lam Ho received her Ph.D. from Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), followed by postdoctoral research appointments at both HKBU and The University of Hong Kong. She began her academic career as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at HKBU in 2012. In 2017, she joined the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) as an Assistant Professor and currently serves as an Associate Professor at the same institution. Prof. Ho’s research focuses on the design and development of molecular functional materials and metallopolymers, with applications spanning photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), organic solar cells, and patternable precursors for magnetic metal alloy nanoparticles.She has been recognized among the world’s top 2% most-cited scientists, as ranked by Stanford University, reflecting the global impact of her contributions to materials chemistry and applied optoelectronics.

Scopus:https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=10242268200&origin=resultslist

Solid-state energy materials for next generation energy storage and conversion

Abstract: The global transition towards a sustainable, carbon-neutral future is critically dependent on transformative breakthroughs in energy storage and conversion technologies. This keynote will address the core challenges and recent advances in two of the most promising classes of solid-state energy materials: high-energy-density lithium-ion cathodes and perovskite solar cells. For energy storage, the development of high-voltage and all-solid-state battery is a direct and effective strategy to enhance the energy density of lithium-ion batteries. However, this approach is severely hampered by significant stability and safety issues under high states of delithiation. We will present a deep dive into the fundamental failure mechanisms, including the irreversible migration of transition metals leading to structural degradation, detrimental interfacial reactions with electrolytes that shorten cycle life, and the release of lattice oxygen which poses serious safety risks. In parallel, for energy conversion, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as a revolutionary photovoltaic technology, promising high efficiency and low production cost. Despite their rapid progress, the long-term operational stability of PSCs remains the primary obstacle to their widespread commercialization. This talk will draw compelling parallels between the stability challenges in batteries and solar cells, focusing on the degradation pathways at material interfaces and within the bulk perovskite structure. We will highlight how advanced characterization and targeted material design can conquer the stability bottlenecks in diverse solid-state energy systems, paving the way for the next generation of high-performance materials required for a sustainable energy ecosystem.

Bio: Dr. Xiang LIU is now working as professor at the School of Materials Science and Engineering of Beihang University (Beijing, China). He is the National Overseas High-level Young Talent, Chief Young Scientist of the National Key R&D Program, and Member of the Expert Committee of the China All-Solid-State Battery Industry-University-Research Collaborative Innovation Platform (CASIP). He received his master’s and doctoral degrees from Sun Yat-sen University and the University of Hong Kong, and conducted postdoctoral research at Tsinghua University and Argonne National Laboratory in the United States. He has been taking charge of battery material research at the Academician Ouyang Minggao’s group since 2021, and joined Beihang University in 2022 as the PI of the Solid-State Energy Materials and Battery Safety Laboratory. Facing the national “dual carbon” goals and major energy security needs, he has been engaged in research related to battery safety, all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries and perovskite solar cells. He has published more than 90 research papers, including Nature Energy, Nature Communications, Joule, Energy Environ. Sci. Advanced Materials, J. Am. Chem. Soc., etc., with more than 10,000 citations and an H- index of 45. His research results have been reported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Argonne National Laboratory, etc., and have been reviewed by journals such as Nature Energy. It is currently undertaking projects of the National Natural Science Foundation, the National Key R&D Program, and joint projects with leading new energy companies such as CATL, Ronby and CNGR.

Scopus:https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57218313871&origin=recordpage

Adhesion to archetypal surfaces: Towards surface selection and design for

fouling control, pathogen removal, and environmental forensics.

The presentation will describe recent studies aimed at elucidating physicochemical bases of particle adhesion to common surfaces. Adhesion onto “archetypal” surfaces can be predicted using the extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek theory and experimentally assessed in tests with quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation. The results will be interpreted based on physicochemical properties of particles and surfaces (fomites). The surfaces can be typified on the basis of their surface energy components including the dispersive (Lifshitz-van der Waals) component and two polar (electron donor and electron acceptor) components. Surfaces include common polymers, polyelectrolyte multilayers, ceramics, and passivated metals. In the case of human viruses, we show that hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions govern virus attachment while van der Waals interactions play a relatively minor role. In higher ionic strength solutions, the extent of virus attachment correlates with the free energy of virus-surface interfacial interaction. The proposed methodology can guide screening and selection of surface with controlled adhesion properties. The information on the efficiency of adhesion to surfaces as a function of their surface energy components can help design surfaces that promote or discourage adhesion, develop surface cleaning solutions and protocols, and inform a broad range of applications from environmental forensics to food processing.

Bio: Dr. Volodymyr Tarabara is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He has Ph.D. and MS degrees in Environmental Engineering from Rice University (Houston, Texas). He also received Doctor honoris causa from the Agricultural University of Georgia in Tbilisi and holds an Adjunct Professor position at Istanbul Technical University. His research focuses on separation processes with applications that include water treatment, industrial pollution control and biosafety monitoring. Dr. Tarabara has co-authored over 100 journal papers and book chapters on these and related subjects. His current editorial duties include serving as the Chief Editor of the Journal of Environmental Engineering (ASCE) and as an Editor of Separation and Purification Technology (Elsevier). Dr. Tarabara is a member-by-eminence of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists and a Fellow of ASCE Environmental and Water Resources Institute. At MSU, Dr. Tarabara also serves as Director of the Center for European and Eurasian Studies.

Scopus:https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=6507841124&origin=resultslist

Self-Powered Health Sensing and Therapy: Development, Mechanisms,

and Applications

In the realm of modern healthcare, chronic wound management poses a pressing challenge due to increasing incidences and limited sustainable therapies. To address this, self-powered electrical stimulation emerges as a promising approach, leveraging triboelectric nanogenerators and moisture-harvesting materials for bioelectronic interventions. Recent innovations focus on designing adaptive bio-interfaces that enhance stability in dynamic environments, including high-performance composite triboelectric materials for optimized local electric fields and deformable liquid metal electrodes for improved tissue conformity. Synergistic strategies combining stimulation with nano-ionic drugs further accelerate cell regeneration, reduce inflammation, and promote healing in complex injuries. Additionally, gel-based generators ensure robust performance in humid conditions, enabling constant field delivery for chronic wound treatment. This talk explores key material engineering principles, underlying electromechanical mechanisms, and practical applications in sensing, therapy, and biomedical systems, offering insights into advancing clinical viability.

Bio: Fei Liang is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Flexible Electronics,
Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU), where he serves as Lead Scientist of
the Qinchuangyuan "Scientist + Engineer" Team; he earned his Ph.D. from the National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, China (2020), followed by postdoctoral research at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and focuses on self-powered devices and materials, including energy harvesting mechanisms at solid-liquid interfaces, for applications in bioelectronics, special equipment, health monitoring, smart sensing, intelligent interactions, and marine electronic systems, with over 30 publications in journals like Science Advances, Matter, and Advanced Materials, and leadership of projects including the NSFC Youth Program.