# US 2019/0356243 A1 · Energy harvesting and storage apparatus and a method of forming thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0356243 A1 - Document ID: US20190356243A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/980,889 - Filed: 2018-05-16 - Published: 2019-11-21 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-16 - Assignees: City University of Hong Kong - Applicants: City University of Hong Kong - Inventors: Chunyi Zhi; Zifeng Wang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190356243A1 ## CPC - D04B 1/12: characterised by thread material - H02N 1/04: Friction generators - A41D 1/002: {adapted to accommodate electronic equipment (patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085)} - A41D 31/00: Materials specially adapted for outerwear - A41D 31/04: characterised by special function or use (protective clothing affording protection against heat or harmful chemical agents or for use at high altitudes A62B17/00; composition of materials for coverings or clothing affording protection against harmful chemical agents A62D5/00) - B32B 5/026: {Knitted fabric} - B32B 5/06: characterised by a fibrous {or filamentary} layer {mechanically connected, e.g. by needling} to another layer, e.g. of fibres, of paper - B32B 5/26: another layer {next to it} also being fibrous or filamentary {(relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12)} - B32B 7/08: by mechanical means - B32B 7/12: using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties - D04B 21/207: {Wearing apparel or garment blanks} - H01M 4/244: {Zinc electrodes} - H01M 4/38: of elements or alloys - H01M 4/42: Alloys based on zinc - H01M 4/50: of manganese - H01M 10/0436: {Small-sized flat cells or batteries for portable equipment} - H01M 10/054: Accumulators with insertion or intercalation of metals other than lithium, e.g. with magnesium or aluminium - H01M 10/44: Methods for charging or discharging (circuits for charging H02J7/00) - H01M 10/46: Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus (circuits for charging H02J7/00) - A41D 2500/10: Knitted - B32B 2250/20: All layers being fibrous or filamentary - B32B 2255/02: on fibrous or filamentary layer - B32B 2255/20: Inorganic coating - B32B 2255/205: Metallic coating - B32B 2255/26: Polymeric coating - B32B 2255/28: Multiple coating on one surface - B32B 2262/0261: Polyamide fibres - B32B 2262/0276: Polyester fibres - B32B 2262/106: Carbon fibres, e.g. graphite fibres - B32B 2307/202: Conductive - B32B 2307/4023: on the layer surface, e.g. ink - B32B 2307/724: Permeability to gases, adsorption - B32B 2307/732: Dimensional properties - B32B 2437/00: Clothing - B32B 2457/10: Batteries - D10B 2331/02: polyamides (D10B2331/08 takes precedence) - D10B 2331/04: polyesters, e.g. polyethylene terephthalate [PET] - D10B 2403/021: Lofty fabric with equidistantly spaced front and back plies, e.g. spacer fabrics - D10B 2403/02431: with electronic components, e.g. sensors or switches - H01M 2300/0085: Immobilising or gelification of electrolyte - H02N 2/18: producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators (for measurement devices G01) - H10N 15/10: Thermoelectric devices using thermal change of the dielectric constant, e.g. working above and below the Curie point - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - D04B: KNITTING - H02N: ELECTRIC MACHINES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - A41D: OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - D10B: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES - H10N: ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A system and a method for an energy harvesting and storage apparatus including a flexible substrate, an energy harvesting device disposed on the flexible substrate, the energy harvesting device is configured to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy, an energy storage device disposed on the flexible substrate and in electrical communication with the energy harvesting device and configured to receive and store the electrical energy from the energy harvesting device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An energy harvesting and storage apparatus comprising: a flexible substrate, an energy harvesting device disposed on the flexible substrate, the energy harvesting device is configured to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy, an energy storage device disposed on the flexible substrate and in electrical communication with the energy harvesting device and configured to receive and store the electrical energy from the energy harvesting device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An energy harvesting and storage apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the energy harvesting device being positioned adjacent the energy storage device on the flexible substrate, to form an integrated energy harvesting and storage apparatus. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An energy harvesting and storage apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the energy storage device is a cell comprising an anode, a cathode spaced apart from the anode and an electrolyte positioned between and coupling the anode and cathode to allow charge transfer between the anode and cathode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) An energy harvesting and storage apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein the cell comprises a base layer disposed onto the flexible substrate, the anode located on the base layer, the electrolyte located on the anode, the cathode disposed on the electrolyte and an outer layer disposed on the cathode. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) An energy harvesting and storage apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein the cell is a zinc ion battery comprising a zinc anode, a manganese dioxide cathode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) An energy harvesting and storage apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein the anode comprises a zinc sheet, the cathode comprises a paste including manganese dioxide, acetylene black and polyvinylidene flouride, the electrolyte comprises a gelatin based gel comprising at least zinc sulfate and/or manganese sulfate and wherein the base layer and the outer layer comprises a carbon cloth. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An energy harvesting and storage apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the energy harvesting device comprises a nanogenerator that is configured to convert mechanical energy of the flexible substrate into electrical energy. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) An energy harvesting and storage apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the nanogenerator comprises a triboelectric nanogenerator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An energy harvesting and storage apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the energy storage device is coupled to the energy harvesting device in a series arrangement or in a parallel arrangement. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An energy harvesting and storage apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the energy harvesting device comprises a plurality of triboelectric nanogenerators located on the flexible substrate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) An energy harvesting and storage apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the triboelectric nanogenerator comprises a first graphene electrode and a second polytetraflouroethylene (PTFE) electrode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) An energy harvesting and storage apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein the triboelectric nanogenerator is configured to convert random mechanical energy from the environment and human motion to electrical energy for storage within the cell. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) An energy harvesting and storage apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate is a spacer fabric comprising a first fabric layer and a second fabric layer with a support layer positioned between the first fabric layer and second fabric layer, wherein the support layer maintaining the first fabric layer separated from the second fabric layer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) An energy harvesting and storage apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein the first and second fabric layers comprise nylon and the support layer comprises polyester. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) An energy harvesting and storage apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the energy harvesting and energy storage apparatus is configured to provide electrical energy to an electrical circuit that is connected to the energy harvesting and energy storage apparatus. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) An energy harvesting and storage apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the energy harvesting device is formed on a separate portion of the substrate to the energy storage device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) An energy harvesting and storage apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein with another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a garment comprising the energy harvesting and energy storage apparatus. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) An energy harvesting and storage apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein the garment is a wearable garment. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) An energy harvesting and storage apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein the garment comprises a portion of spacer fabric, wherein a region of the spacer fabric forms the flexible substrate of the energy harvesting and energy storage apparatus. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) An energy harvesting and storage apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the present disclosure relates to a wearable power supply unit for use with an electronic circuit comprising the energy harvesting and energy storage apparatus. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) An energy harvesting and storage apparatus in accordance with claim 20, wherein the wearable power supply is positioned on a wearable garment. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) An energy harvesting and storage apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the energy harvesting device and the energy storage device are formed on the flexible substrate by electrodeposition. ### Claim 23 A method of forming an energy harvesting and an energy storage apparatus comprising: providing a flexible substrate, constructing an energy harvesting device by coating a portion of the flexible substrate with a first ink and a second ink, constructing an energy storage device by electrodepositing an anode, depositing a cathode and providing an electrolyte between the anode and cathode. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) A method of forming an energy harvesting and an energy storage apparatus in accordance with claim 23, wherein the energy harvesting device is a triboelectric nanogenerator and the energy storage device is a cell. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) A method of forming an energy harvesting and an energy storage apparatus in accordance with claim 23, wherein the triboelectric nanogenerator comprising the first ink and second ink, wherein the first ink comprises graphene ink and the second ink comprises a polytetraflouroethylene (PTFE) ink. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) A method of forming an energy harvesting and an energy storage apparatus in accordance with claim 23, wherein the cell is assembled by the steps of: positioning a flexible conductive carbon cloth, electrodepositing zinc plate onto the carbon cloth to form the anode, depositing a manganese dioxide paste onto the carbon cloth to form the cathode, and injecting a gelatin based gel electrolyte between the anode and the cathode. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) A method of forming an energy harvesting and an energy storage apparatus in accordance with claim 26, wherein the cathode further comprises acetylene black and polyvinylidene fluoride mixed with manganese dioxide to form a paste. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) A method of forming an energy harvesting and an energy storage apparatus in accordance with claim 27, wherein the cathode comprises a paste of manganese dioxide, acetylene black and polyvinylidene fluoride in a ratio of 7:2:1. ### Claim 29 (depends on 23) A method of forming an energy harvesting and an energy storage apparatus in accordance with claim 23, wherein the flexible substrate comprises a space fabric, wherein the spacer fabric comprises a first fabric layer and a second fabric layer with a support layer positioned between the first fabric layer and second fabric layer, wherein the support layer maintaining the first fabric layer separated from the second fabric layer. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) A method of forming an energy harvesting and an energy storage apparatus in accordance with claim 29, wherein the first and second fabric layers comprise nylon and the support layer comprises polyester. ### Claim 31 (depends on 26) A method of forming an energy harvesting and an energy storage apparatus in accordance with claim 26, wherein the carbon cloth is sewn onto the spacer fabric. ### Claim 32 (depends on 29) A method of forming an energy harvesting and an energy storage apparatus in accordance with claim 29, wherein the spacer fabric is formed by knitting the first fabric layer and a second fabric layer, and the support layer is then knitted between the first and second fabric layer.