More than 27 million tons of single-use polystyrene packaging is produced worldwide every year, but only 12% is recycled. Most of it ends up in landfills after the first use.
Researchers from RMIT University and Riga University of Technology have developed an innovative way to generate electricity using waste polystyrene, addressing both the energy needs and environmental impacts of the ubiquitous packaging material.
The invention reuses discarded polystyrene in a device that generates static electricity through movement, such as wind or airflow. The device is a thin piece, made of multiple layers of polystyrene, each about “one-tenth the thickness of a human hair,” according to lead researcher Dr. Peter Sherrell, who further explained: “We can produce this static electricity simply by the air blowing over the surface of our smart places, then harvest that energy.
Consistently produce electricity
The patch, which can capture the turbulent airflow from air conditioning systems, could reduce energy demand by up to 5% and reduce the carbon footprint of these systems. Tests show that the device can reach a voltage of up to 230 volts, comparable to household voltage, but at a lower power level.
Sherrell noted: “The biggest numbers come from compression and separation, where you have higher speeds and larger movements, while smaller movements generate less energy. This means that in addition to air conditioners, integrating our spots into high-traffic areas, such as underground walkways, could supplement local energy supplies without creating additional demand on the electrical grid.”
The device’s long lifespan comes from the same properties that cause polystyrene to decompose slowly. “The beauty here is that the same reason polystyrene takes 500 years to decompose in a landfill, these devices are very stable – and able to continue producing electricity for a long time,” Sherrell said.
This process involves learning how to modify plastics to optimize their energy-generating potential: “We investigated which plastic generates more energy and how, if you structure it differently, you make it rough, make it smooth, make it really thin, make it really very makes thin. fat – how that changes this whole charging phenomenon.”
This static electricity generation project is part of the team’s ongoing research into triboelectric nanogenerators, as published in Advanced energy and sustainability research. RMIT has applied for a provisional patent for its device and is now looking for industrial partners to help develop the technology for commercial applications.