New KAIST Technology Converts Industrial Vibrations Into CO₂ Monitoring Power (Image supported by ChatGPT)
DAEJEON, June 10 (Korea Bizwire) – Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have developed a groundbreaking self-powered carbon dioxide monitoring system that converts ambient vibrations into electricity—eliminating the need for external power sources.
As global industries face increasing regulatory pressure to monitor and reduce carbon emissions, demand is growing for more efficient and maintenance-free CO₂ monitoring systems. Traditional systems rely on wired power or batteries, which pose installation and operational challenges.
In a joint study with Chung-Ang University, KAIST’s Professor Kwon Kyung-ha and his team in the Department of Electrical Engineering engineered a self-generating wireless CO₂ sensor using energy harvesting—a technique that captures unused energy from everyday sources like vibration and pressure.
At the core of the innovation is an inertial triboelectric nanogenerator, a device that harnesses vibrations from industrial equipment or pipelines and converts them into electrical energy. By incorporating elastic springs, the device amplifies micro-vibrations through resonance, generating a steady output of 0.5 milliwatts.
KAIST Research Team Develops Self-Powered CO₂ Monitoring Technology. From left: Master’s student Jang Gyu-rim and Professor Kwon Kyung-ha (Image provided by KAIST)
The electricity produced powers both a CO₂ sensor and a low-energy Bluetooth communication module, enabling real-time, wireless environmental monitoring without batteries or wiring.
“This technology lays the groundwork for scalable, self-powered environmental monitoring platforms that can integrate various sensors,” said Prof. Kwon.
The research was published in the June 1 issue of the international journal Nano Energy.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
