A domestic research team has developed a technology that can generate electricity on its own to power sensors and robots without battery charging or replacement.
A team led by Professor Lee Ju-hyeok at Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) said on the 3rd that it implemented a nanogenerator that directly produces direct current (DC) electricity using commonly used plastic (PVC). The study was published in the international journal "Nature Communications" on Oct. 29 (local time).
Conventional triboelectric nanogenerators could convert small mechanical energy, such as human movement or vibration, into electricity, but they produced only alternating current (AC), so the power had to be converted to direct current (DC) through a kind of electronic circuit called a "rectifier circuit." In this process, energy is lost, and the structure is complex, making mass production or industrial application difficult.
The researchers mixed a "plasticizer (an additive that increases flexibility)" into inexpensive, common PVC to enable direct production of DC electricity without a separate circuit. The resulting generator is called an "ionic direct-current triboelectric nanogenerator (iDC-TENG)."
The device produces power stably even when movements change. When friction occurs, ions gather on the electrode surface to form an internal electric field, which generates electricity.
The team also confirmed that power output varies depending on the electrode material. In experiments, the device stably produced high power density (tens to hundreds of mW/㎡) and successfully lit 250 light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and operated sensors.
Professor Lee Ju-hyeok said, "This is the world's first direct production of DC electricity using inexpensive plastic," adding, "This technology will enable systems that operate for a long time without battery replacement in various fields, including wearable devices, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, and logistics robots." Lee added, "If applied to logistics warehouses, transport robots, and location-tracking sensors, it is also expected to contribute to building a sustainable, energy self-sufficient Smart Logistics infrastructure."
References
Nature Communications (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-64582-w