Sundsvall and Qingdao explore energy harvesting for smart cities

- Professor Li’s group conducts research on triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), with a particular focus on harvesting energy from the marine environment. The visit provided an opportunity to exchange ideas across complementary areas of expertise, says Dr. Ye Xu from Mid Sweden University. 

Professor Li's group focuses strongly on TENG-based energy harvesting, while Ye Xu works primarily with electromagnetic energy harvesting and electronic circuits for self-powered sensing systems. The discussions therefore covered not only energy harvesting principles, but also practical questions concerning power management, electronic circuits, sensing and system integration.

Ye also introduced Mid Sweden University, STC Research Centre, and research and student life in Sweden. Qingdao and Sundsvall have something important in common: both are coastal cities. 

- This led to an interesting discussion about how technologies for harvesting energy from the marine environment could potentially contribute to future smart city and autonomous sensing applications in Sundsvall, says Ye Xu. 

There was also a connection closer to home. Professor Li’s work on TENGs overlaps with the research field of Docent Renyun Zhang at FSCN Research Centre, Mid Sweden University. Professor Li asked Ye Xu to convey his greetings to Docent Renyun Zhang and FSCN Research Centre.

- International visits like this create opportunities to connect complementary expertise, from new energy harvesting materials and mechanisms to electronics, sensing and complete self-powered systems, and may provide a foundation for future collaboration between Qingdao and Sundsvall, says Ye Xu.