SPIN

Self-Powered INterfaces Bridging Triboelectric Nanogenerator with Origami

2019

Keywords
Engineered Origami
Energy-Harvesting
Embodied Interaction
Publication
TEI ’20, Accepted
Tools
Arduino
Laser Cutter
Cricut
Teammates
Chris Chen
David Howard
Advisor
Prof. Hyunjoo Oh
Prof. Gregory Abowd
My Role
Material Experiment
‍Application Prototyping
Physical Computing
Innovations
Self-Powered Interfaces: Combines paper creases with triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) for energy-harvesting, powering sensors and actuators.
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Customizable Design Editor: Enables users to create crease patterns, estimate power output, and export files for fabrication.
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Integrated Fabrication Workflow: Streamlines design-assembly process to create self-powered paper interfaces with ease.
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Expressive Interaction Mechanisms: Explores embodied push-and-pull interactions with applications across scales.
Overview
This research develops self-powered paper interfaces by integrating triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) into origami-inspired crease patterns, supported by a customizable design editor and integrated fabrication workflow. It enables energy harvesting for sensors and actuators while fostering expressive interaction modes through innovative paper materiality.

The result includes three parts:
- Self-Power Module: harvests energy using TENG
- Form Module: shapes crease patterns 
- Function Module: enables interactive applications
Self-Power Module:
How It works
Basic Principle: converts mechanical energy from push-and-pull interactions into electricity via contact electrification and electrostatic induction.

Materials: uses paper-like, thin, lightweight, flexible materials (e.g., PTFE, copper, nylon) attached to paper folds.

Mechanism: compression causes PTFE and nylon layers to contact, generating charge on copper layers upon separation, creating a potential difference that drives electrons between the layers to produce alternating current (AC).

Energy Usage: It can act both as an instantaneous power and stored energy power
Self-Power Module:
Fabrication workflow
The fabrication of the self-power module begins with generating the TENG module in the design editor (top left). Materials such as paper, copper adhesive, and PTFE sheets are then prepared by cutting and scoring (a-b). Next, the paper is folded along the creases into the designated form (c), and copper adhesive layers are applied to the specified positions on the TENG module (d). A PTFE layer is attached to one side of the copper, and a nylon paper layer to the other (e). Finally, the connections are tested by pressing the creased paper (f), allowing the positive and negative sides of the power modules to connect.
form Module:
crease pattern v.s.
power generation
The shape, size, and orientation of paper creases affect both aesthetics and power generation efficiency through push-pull interactions. Four crease patterns--Stripe, Miura, Yoshimura, and Waterbomb folds--were explored, each offering different levels of complexity and energy harvesting potential.

Key Factors Influencing Power Generation: 
- Maximum displacement;
- Stiffness of the folds;
- Contact surface area
Function Module:
interaction &
application
The application ideas stem from varying scales of interaction, ranging from fingertip to full-body engagement. At each scale, we explored possible interaction forms that not only highlight the expressiveness of the form module but also harness the power module for energy harvesting. The combined TENG and crease pattern function as both sensors and actuators:
- Sensing: measures touch and force; higher force generates higher voltage peak
- Actuating: powers actuators like LEDs, e-paper displays, and buzzers
summary
The key findings:
- Form-Energy Efficiency: Stripe fold achieved the highest voltage (75V) and power density (26.35 mW/m²).
- Form-Function Relationship: Crease pattern complexity impacts energy generation and user interaction.

Limitations:
- Inconsistent compressions and contacts limit energy harvesting efficiency.
- Requires prior knowledge of electronics to optimize functional modules.
- Crease patterns offer expressive opportunities but pose technical challenges.