Research Projects

The use of portable electronics, soft robotics, wearable devices, healthcare monitoring, and electronics sensors has increased as a result of the Internet of Things' (IoT) rapid expansion. These intelligent systems frequently run on conventional electrochemical batteries. However, the conventional battery has its own drawbacks, such as issues with battery replacement, recharging, and disposal. As a result, self-powered energy harvesting devices utilizing mechanical energy, a high-entropy energy source, are receiving a lot of attention. One of the mechanisms for harvesting electrical energy from mechanical energy is piezoelectricity. Freeze casting, hydrothermal methods, and electrospinning are examples of traditional manufacturing that do not have customization requirements, material constraints, requirements for shape complexity, or longer product development life cycles. In this context, additive manufacturing, the fabrication of complex, flexible structures, and the reduction of material waste have all contributed to 3D Printing's revolution in the manufacturing sector. Recently, 3D Printing has emerged as a suitable fabrication method to fabricate customized energy harvesters of piezoelectric polymers. The present proposal aims to develop a flexible piezoelectric energy harvester for smart biomedical monitoring by exploiting the most advanced 3D Printing technology. The major beneficiaries will be general public, patients with chronic diseases for health monitoring. Tracking muscle and body movement for performance enhancement will also be beneficial to sports professionals and fitness enthusiasts. The PI will be able to implement this proposal and create a flexible, self-powered highly sensitive piezoelectric sensor for intelligent biomedical systems that make use of Direct Ink Writing DIW. Developed piezoelectric nanogenerator will also have a shorter product life cycle, use less material, and be cheaper than switching to sustainable manufacturing,