A self-powered soft triboelectric-electrohydrodynamic pump
Abstract Soft pumps have the potential to transform industries including soft robotics, wearable devices, microfluidics and biomedical devices, but their efficiency and power supply limitations hinder prolonged operation. Here, we report a self-powered triboelectric-electrohydrodynamic pump, which c...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56679-z |
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| author | Fangming Li Shuowen Sun Xingfu Wan Minzheng Sun Steven L. Zhang Minyi Xu |
| author_facet | Fangming Li Shuowen Sun Xingfu Wan Minzheng Sun Steven L. Zhang Minyi Xu |
| author_sort | Fangming Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Soft pumps have the potential to transform industries including soft robotics, wearable devices, microfluidics and biomedical devices, but their efficiency and power supply limitations hinder prolonged operation. Here, we report a self-powered triboelectric-electrohydrodynamic pump, which combines a soft electrohydrodynamic pump driven by an electrostatic generator, specifically a triboelectric nanogenerator. The triboelectric nanogenerator collects ambient energy and converts it into high-voltage power source, allowing it to self-power an electrohydrodynamic pump and thus eliminating the need for external power supply. Using power management circuit, geometric shape optimization, and stacking methods, we achieve a maximum pressure of 4.49 kPa and a maximum flow rate of 502 mL/min. We demonstrate the pump’s versatility in applications such as self-powered soft actuators, oil pumping in microfluidics, and oil purification. The triboelectric-electrohydrodynamic pump holds promising applications, and offers new insights for the development of fully self-powered systems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0ba4b6f5f0d74296a9a200a279482cb3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-0ba4b6f5f0d74296a9a200a279482cb32025-02-09T12:44:31ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-02-0116111110.1038/s41467-025-56679-zA self-powered soft triboelectric-electrohydrodynamic pumpFangming Li0Shuowen Sun1Xingfu Wan2Minzheng Sun3Steven L. Zhang4Minyi Xu5State Key Laboratory of Maritime Technology and Safety, Marine Engineering College, Dalian Maritime UniversityState Key Laboratory of Maritime Technology and Safety, Marine Engineering College, Dalian Maritime UniversityState Key Laboratory of Maritime Technology and Safety, Marine Engineering College, Dalian Maritime UniversityState Key Laboratory of Maritime Technology and Safety, Marine Engineering College, Dalian Maritime UniversitySchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of TechnologyState Key Laboratory of Maritime Technology and Safety, Marine Engineering College, Dalian Maritime UniversityAbstract Soft pumps have the potential to transform industries including soft robotics, wearable devices, microfluidics and biomedical devices, but their efficiency and power supply limitations hinder prolonged operation. Here, we report a self-powered triboelectric-electrohydrodynamic pump, which combines a soft electrohydrodynamic pump driven by an electrostatic generator, specifically a triboelectric nanogenerator. The triboelectric nanogenerator collects ambient energy and converts it into high-voltage power source, allowing it to self-power an electrohydrodynamic pump and thus eliminating the need for external power supply. Using power management circuit, geometric shape optimization, and stacking methods, we achieve a maximum pressure of 4.49 kPa and a maximum flow rate of 502 mL/min. We demonstrate the pump’s versatility in applications such as self-powered soft actuators, oil pumping in microfluidics, and oil purification. The triboelectric-electrohydrodynamic pump holds promising applications, and offers new insights for the development of fully self-powered systems.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56679-z |
| spellingShingle | Fangming Li Shuowen Sun Xingfu Wan Minzheng Sun Steven L. Zhang Minyi Xu A self-powered soft triboelectric-electrohydrodynamic pump Nature Communications |
| title | A self-powered soft triboelectric-electrohydrodynamic pump |
| title_full | A self-powered soft triboelectric-electrohydrodynamic pump |
| title_fullStr | A self-powered soft triboelectric-electrohydrodynamic pump |
| title_full_unstemmed | A self-powered soft triboelectric-electrohydrodynamic pump |
| title_short | A self-powered soft triboelectric-electrohydrodynamic pump |
| title_sort | self powered soft triboelectric electrohydrodynamic pump |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56679-z |
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