By: Akul M.
Photo by Marek Piwnicki via Unsplash.com
Introduction
Triboelectricity can heavily impact human nature and development because of its purpose and influence on society today and its unforeseen potential as a renewable energy, but for all this to happen, one significant change would be needed, changing the material of roads.
What is Triboelectricity?
Triboelectricity is the art of harvesting electricity through the use of static electricity or the connection of two elements that are rubbed together. The more the two elements interact, the more effective the energy harvest is. Triboelectric materials can be measured through the triboelectric series which shows how well materials can produce triboelectricity when prompted to.
One of the most important and versatile ways humans move are cars, with the majority using this for commuting. But what if there was a way that driving could possibly save you money and be better for the planet? Here’s how it would work:
How it Works
Tires are what cars use for movement on roads and such and are powered by the motor rapidly combusting with fuel, which is where triboelectricity comes in as a replacement for fuel.
How would the tires make triboelectricity though? Well, first off, tires are made out of mostly rubber, and this will be important a little further down. Roads are typically made from asphalt concrete, which is the problem in this scenario as it is what stops triboelectricity from working in the first place since concrete isn’t primarily on the triboelectric series. So in order for this to be a logical solution we have to alter the materials in the roads to fit this idea.
Well that’s what I’m presenting, a new type of road that isn’t made from asphalt concrete but rather aluminum, the idea of creating a new road is common but not making it out of a triboelectric series material such as aluminum.
Rubber is on the positive side of the triboelectric series while aluminum is on a similar scale but on the negative counterpart of rubber. This means they could possibly create a triboelectric effect with each other, due to their charges.This small amount of electricity when increased and scaled, coud power many different devices, or even vehicles, all produced from the motion that was previously thought to be a negative.
The energy would be captured using triboelectric nanogenerators, which can capture and apply the energy from a connection between two triboelectric materials, located in the rubber tires of wheels or under the aluminum road and then stored for long-term use in an additional battery.
Motor technology would also slightly change because of the addition of new road materials making horsepower and sensitivity possibly change and need to be increased.
Pros and Cons of Triboelectricity Harvesting
Some positives of this new technology would be that triboelectricity is a renewable energy, meaning that it can be renewed faster than it is used. Likewise, it’s pretty much a one-time installation factor, as you would only need to change up the roads and add a little bit of new technology, much easier than making 100’s of solar panels.
Although Triboelectricity Harvesting can also be a double sided coin, as aluminum isn’t as common as concrete and would be more expensive. Additionally the safety of large amounts of aluminum in the same area has not been tested effectively, especially since the car tires are creating static electricity that might harm people if direct contact happens.
Possible solutions to these problems may include:
More infrastructure aimed at making aluminum, or not using pure aluminum, but a mixture.
Putting the roads in highways, so direct contact would be rare.
Conclusion
Changing roads to connect with common tires can really influence society and impact it like never before. If strong enough, it can truly create a new efficient and renewable energy that can fuel the start of new advancements and fight against modern climate change. This energy can really be used to help humanity in ways we’ve never seen before.
Works Cited:
Admin. (2022, May 6). Triboelectric series - Triboelectric Effect, triboelectrification, faqs. BYJUS. https://byjus.com/physics/triboelectric-series/
Zhang, H., Yang, C., Yu, Y., Zhou, Y., Quan, L., Dong, S., & Luo, J. (2020). Origami-tessellation-based triboelectric nanogenerator for energy harvesting with application in road pavement. Nano Energy, 78, 105177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.105177