Jun 03, 2024 Enhancing nanofibrous acoustic energy harvesters with AI ( Nanowerk News ) Scientists at the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI) have employed artificial intelligence techniques to improve the design and production of nanofibers used in wearable nanofiber acoustic energy harvesters (NAEH). These acoustic devices capture sound energy from the environment and convert it into electrical energy, which can then be applied in useful devices, such as hearing aids. Many efforts have been made to capture naturally occurring and abundant energy sources from our surrounding environment.
Relatively recent advances such as solar panels and wind turbines allow us to efficiently harvest energy from the sun and wind, convert it into electrical energy, and store it for various applications. Similarly, conversions of acoustic energy can be seen in amplifying devices such as microphones, as well as in wearable, flexible electronic devices for personalized healthcare. Currently, there has been much interest in using piezoelectric nanogenerators - devices that convert mechanical vibrations, stress, or strain into electrical power – as acoustic energy harvesters.
These nanogenerators can convert mechanical energy from sound waves to generate electricity; however, this conversion of sound waves is inefficient, as it occurs mainly in the high-frequency sound range, and most environmental sound waves are in the low frequency range. Additionally, choosing optimal materia.
