AI Enhances Wearable Nanofiber Acoustic Energy Harvesters at Terasaki Institute

Researchers at the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI) have successfully employed artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to improve the design and production of nanofibers used in wearable nanofiber acoustic energy harvesters (NAEH). These devices convert environmental sound energy into electrical energy, which can be used in devices such as hearing aids.

The TIBI team chose polyvinylfluoride (PVDF) nanofibers for their ability to capture acoustic energy efficiently and added polyurethane (PU) to impart flexibility. They applied AI techniques to determine the optimal fabrication parameters for electrospinning the PVDF/PU nanofibers, including applied voltage, electrospinning time, and drum rotation speed.

The AI-generated PVDF/PU NAEHs outperformed conventionally fabricated NAEHs, yielding a power density level more than 2.5 times higher and a significantly higher energy conversion efficiency (66% vs. 42%). These devices achieved these results with a wide range of low-frequency sound, within the levels found in ambient background noise.

This breakthrough in wearable nanofiber acoustic energy harvesters has the potential to transform the field of personalized healthcare. The development of wearable, flexible electronic devices that can harness environmental sound energy could lead to significant advancements in medical technology and improve the lives of millions of people.

Ali Khademhosseini, Ph.D., TIBI's director and CEO, emphasized the efficiency of AI in optimizing the fabrication process: "Models using artificial intelligence optimization, described here, minimize time spent on trial and error and maximize the effectiveness of the finished product. This can have far-reaching effects on the fabrication of medical devices with significant practicability."

The study detailing these advancements was published in the journal Nano Research. The authors include Negar Hosseinzadeh Kouchehbaghi, Maryam Yousefzadeh, Aliakbar Gharehaghaji, Safoora Khosravi, Danial Khorsandi, Reihaneh Haghniaz, Ke Cao, Mehmet R. Dokmeci, Mohammad Rostami, Ali Khademhosseini, and Yangzhi Zhu.

This breakthrough demonstrates the potential of AI-optimized nanofibers in enhancing the performance of NAEHs, which could have significant implications for the development of wearable, flexible electronic devices for personalized healthcare.

Key Takeaways

• AI optimizes nanofiber fabrication for wearable energy harvesters.
• PVDF/PU nanofibers capture acoustic energy efficiently and flexibly.
• AI-generated NAEHs outperform conventional ones with 2.5x power density.
• Devices harness environmental sound energy with 66% efficiency.
• Breakthrough enables wearable, flexible electronics for personalized healthcare.