October 14, 2022

About the speaker

Shadman Sakib is a member of SWE, BSA & ECS and a Big Idea Challenge Finalist. He a current graduate student researcher for the Photonics & Energy Research Lab (PERL) pursuing a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at UTRGV. He loves biking, travel & solving puzzles when he’s not in school. He was honored to have met Nobel laureate, Muhammad Yunus, who has also received the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2010. Shadman’s current research is in cellulose aerogel synthesis methods, morphological tuning of nanofibers, and mechanical solutions to enhance triboelectric effect of bio-polymer aerogels for energy harvesting applications. Shadman views his research work as a fundamental need to explore more sustainable practices in manufacturing processes to help protect our environment.

Additional authors include Kevin Alejandro and M. Jasim Uddin from the Photonics and Energy Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 1201 W. University Drive, Edinburg, Texas, TX-78539, USA

Cellulose/Chitosan Composite Aerogel Based Triboelectric Nano-generator for Harvesting Mechanical Energy

Triboelectric nanogenerators have garnered much attention over recent years as the world continues advancing toward its goals of green renewable energy and a more cohesive relationship with our environment. Every day small amounts of energy are lost in the form of mechanical energy as we move throughout our daily lives, triboelectric nanogenerators seek to use some of this otherwise lost mechanical energy for the purpose of powering small devices which would otherwise have to be powered using more costly and unsustainable sources of energy. Ideally these nanogenerators would be made of readily available, inexpensive, and safe natural materials which possess high mechanical and triboelectric properties. The goal of this research is to fabricate an aerogel made of cellulose and chitosan and reinforced with natural nanofiber materials for an increased level of mechanical strength and durability. Challenges being producing an aerogel which can produce a significant electrical charge through the triboelectric effect to harness mechanical energy as well as have the aerogel be durable and flexible to make effective and practical nanogenerators which will power small sensors. Medical applications for these (TENGs) are the goal of this research, the fruits of this research will go into producing TENGs for small medical devices which would otherwise have to be charged or be powered by external batteries which currently makes them expensive and impractical.