Honeybee-inspired electrostatic microparticle manipulation system based on triboelectric nanogenerator. (15th December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Wenjian; Lu, Liqiang; Liu, Guoxu; Zhang, Chi; Loos, Katja; Pei, Yutao
• Is Part Of: Nano energy. Volume 104(2022)Part B
• Publication Date: 2022-12-15
• Subjects: Bioinspired -- Electrostatic -- Microparticle manipulation -- Triboelectric nanogenerator -- Pin-to-plate; Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanostructured materials -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Nanoscience; Nanostructured materials; Nanotechnology; Power resources -- Technological innovations; Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2022.107901
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2211-2855

Abstract

Abstract: Electrostatic manipulation of particles or droplets has raised huge interests across many fields including biomedical analysis, microchemistry and microfabrication/patterning, because of its merits of simple configuration and easy operation. However, traditionally applied bulky high voltage sources for electrostatic manipulation not only have potential safety risk to the operator and the devices, but also limit the portability. Here, we proposed an electrostatic microparticle manipulation system (EMMS) based on a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). Inspired from the pollen collection principle of honeybees, the EMMS featured a simple pin-to-plate electrodes system, which was electrostatically powered by the high voltage of the TENG. Different manipulation modes, including contact manipulation and noncontact manipulation were systematically studied. With a sliding displacement of 5 cm, the TENG delivered an output voltage of ± 3.2 kV, which could manipulate dielectric microparticles with weights of 1.7 mg, 0.9 mg and 13.3 mg at contact manipulation mode, noncontact manipulation (vertical lift) and noncontact manipulation (parallel move) mode, respectively. Manipulation mechanisms for both dielectric and conductive microparticles under different configurations of the pin-to-plate electrodes system were investigated. Finally, potential applications including micropatterning, dust remove and drug release/microchemistry were demonstrated to show the great prospects of the proposed TENG-based EMMS. Graphical Abstract: ga1 Highlights: A honeybee-inspired electrostatic microparticle manipulation system was proposed based on a triboelectric nanogenerator. Different manipulation modes, including contact manipulation and noncontact manipulation were systematically studied. Manipulation mechanisms under different configurations of the pin-to-plate electrode system were investigated. Potential applications including micropatterning, dust remove and drug release/microchemistry were demonstrated.