Polystyrene patches tap air power
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A new invention generates useful static electricity from waste polystyrene.
RMIT researchers have developed thin, multi-layered patches that produce electricity from motion and wind, helping recycle both energy and waste material.
Globally, over 25 million tonnes of polystyrene packaging are produced annually, with only a fraction being recycled. The rest ends up in landfill.
This innovation, developed with Riga Technical University in Latvia, aims to address this issue by repurposing waste into energy-generating materials.
“We can produce this static electricity just from air blowing on the surface of our clever patches, then harvest that energy,” lead researcher Dr Peter Sherrell says.
The polystyrene patches could collect energy from turbulent air expelled by air conditioning units, potentially cutting energy demand by up to five per cent.
“There’s potential to reduce the carbon footprint of these systems,” Dr Sherrell notes.
The maximum voltage achieved by the device is about 230 volts, similar to household mains voltage but at lower power. However, adding more layers can increase the energy output.
The device operates on the principle of triboelectricity - static electricity generated through friction. The layers of polystyrene rub together, generating electric charges that can be captured.
It works best under conditions of rapid compression and separation, making it suitable for locations with consistent motion, such as underground walkways, where it could supplement local energy supplies without burdening the grid.
The research not only optimises polystyrene recycling but also solves a long-standing scientific mystery about static electricity at the nanoscale.
“We’ve figured out how to make the insides of reformed polystyrene rub across each other in a controlled way, making all the charge pull in the same direction to produce electricity,” Dr Sherrell said.
Beyond polystyrene, the team has explored using other single-use plastics for similar energy-harvesting purposes.
The goal is to structure and configure the materials for different outputs, to enhance the technology’s versatility.
The project is now seeking industry partners to develop the patches into commercial devices.
More details are accessible here.
