An international research team from the Department of Chemical Engineering at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Riga Technical University, the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, and the MESA+ Institute at the University of Twente has discovered a new method to generate electricity using small plastic beads.
The process, known as triboelectrification, involves placing the beads close together and bringing them into contact, which generates more electricity than usual. Tests indicate that the size and material of the beads play a crucial role, with larger beads tending to acquire a negative charge and smaller beads a positive charge.
Melamine-formaldehyde beads showed the most significant effect due to their low elasticity and ability to transfer electric charge effectively. This advancement could enable new energy-harvesting applications, such as smart clothing that generates energy from movement and self-powered small devices.