Designed piezoelectric materials and magnetostrictive metal materials through hybrid interface coupling technology
Reached a level capable of semi-permanent operation without batteries

Technology that converts electrical energy by utilizing magnetic field noise has been confirmed to be at a level capable of commercialization as autonomous independent power for Internet of Things (IoT) wireless sensor networks.

Professor Ryu Jung-ho's team at Yeungnam University developed a technology that converts everyday magnetic field changes into electrical energy by combining magnetostrictive metal materials (Ga-Fe alloy) that expand or contract with minute changes in magnetic field and piezoelectric materials that generate electrical energy when deformed.

By utilizing the principle that the characteristics of piezoelectric materials and magnetostrictive metal materials vary according to their crystallographic orientation, the two materials were fabricated with crystallographic orientation most sensitively responsive to magnetic fields, and an energy conversion device was designed using hybrid interface coupling technology combining these two materials. Furthermore, they successfully generated direct current power of mW or higher, which is sufficient to continuously operate IoT wireless sensors without batteries.

Director Kim Kwang-ho of the Future Materials Research Unit based on Hybrid Interface and Professor Ryu Jung-ho of Yeungnam University stated, "We have secured patent rights related to the technology in Korea, the United States, Europe, Japan, and China," and explained the research significance, saying "We have now reached a level capable of operating wireless sensor networks that previously required batteries to function on a semi-permanent basis without batteries, therefore widespread application as autonomous independent power for future fourth industrial revolution wireless sensor networks is anticipated."