Research Projects

This project focuses on the fabrication of highly conducting, robust fiber/fabric-based electrodes for multi-functional wearable devices, such as fiber-based glucose level monitors, asymmetric solid-state supercapacitor devices, and fabric-based energy harvesters. These conducting fibers/fabrics will be developed using a simple solution approach, such as layer-by-layer assembly, polymerization, etc. The material of conducting electrodes will be chosen based on the desired applications. For instance, for the fabrication of an electrochemical glucose sensors and asymmetric solid-state supercapacitors, Au fibers/fabrics will be employed with specific functionalization of the receptors/active materials, due to their high chemical stability, conductivity and robustness towards abrasion and tape tests On the other hand, the energy harvesters will be fabricated using cost-effective metals (Ag, Cu, and Ni etc.) and materials (PANI, PPy). The proposed fiber-based electrochemical sensor will be wearable, reusable, and most importantly, non-invasive. This fiber-based electrochemical sensor could sense human body glucose levels from sweat samples. For cost-effective and efficient energy storage with high energy density and long cycling life, asymmetric configurations are desired. This proposed work aims to enhance the capacitance of the Au fiber by electrodepositing a ternary transition metal oxide and conducting polymers. The fabricated electrodes will be intertwined with gel electrolyte for the construction of a flexible and lightweight fiber-based asymmetric supercapacitor. The current proposal is also intended to develop an energy harvester for converting the mechanical energy of human body movements into electrical energy. Cost-effective conductive materials coated fabric will be developed for such applications. The conductive fabric electrodes will be coated with electron-donating/ electron-accepting triboelectric materials such as PTFE, PDMS, PANI, and mica. In case of the PENG device, barium titanium trioxide, which exhibits piezoelectric properties, will be coated over Ag/Cu/PANI fabrics via the electrospinning approach. In conclusion, the glucose level monitor, self-powered using TENG/PENG devices in combination with the asymmetric solid-state fiber-based supercapacitor, will be developed.