On the 14th, Lim Chang-kyu, a principal researcher at the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) Energy and Environment Research Division, announced that his research team has developed smart textile sensors capable of detecting natural disasters such as landslides in real-time.
The research team utilized 'piezoelectric' technology that converts pressure into electricity, allowing it to operate without an external power source. Piezoelectric fibers are materials that generate electricity when pressed or bent, and are used in wearable devices, smart textile sensors, and energy harvesting devices.
In this study, a new nanomaterial called 'tin titanate nanorods' was developed and made into piezoelectric fibers with the polymer polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). These fibers have a cross-section divided into eight branches like flower petals and were woven into a three-dimensional structure by stacking them in pairs. The air layers created between the fibers aid in shock absorption, pressure transmission, and signal amplification.
The sensor using the developed fiber was able to generate a voltage of up to 92.8V and a current of 4.13 mA when a pressure of 1N/㎡ (force applied per unit area) was applied to a size of 5㎝ by 5㎝. It is powerful enough to light up 22 light-emitting diodes (LEDs) without an external power source, allowing it to sufficiently drive ordinary sensor systems or small electronic devices. The output is more than twice that of existing flat structures.
The research team implemented a Bluetooth-based real-time landslide detection system that operates without an external power source using this fiber. It can detect forces applied from outside and transmit data wirelessly. The system can be utilized in various fields, from detecting disaster signs like landslides due to heavy rain to healthcare and exercise tracking.
Principal researcher Lim Chang-kyu noted, 'This research has identified structural and non-structural factors that can enhance the performance of piezoelectric fibers,' and added, 'It can contribute to the development of smart detection technologies that can proactively respond to various disasters, such as landslides caused by heavy rain.'
This research was published online in the international journal of materials science, 'Advanced Functional Materials,' on Apr. 21.
References
Advanced Functional Materials (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202504271