Kyung Hee University’s Regional Cooperation Research Center (GRRC) announced on the 8th that it has developed next-generation energy harvesting technology that converts everyday movements into electrical energy using wearable flexible semiconductor materials, and published a related research paper in the international journal Advanced Fiber Materials in April.

The core of this study is the fabrication of a composite film by combining a silicon-based flexible material (PDMS) and a special polymer (PVDF-HFP) into nanofibers thinner than a human hair, according to the GRRC research team at Kyung Hee University.

A nanogenerator device using this film bends softly like paper while detecting external pressure or vibrations and generating electricity. The research team succeeded in transmitting body-movement data collected by this device to a smartphone in real time.

Based on this, the technology is expected to be applied to wearable healthcare devices attached to clothing or skin to manage health status, as well as to equipment that measures physical activity. Its range of applications also extends to autonomous driving and smart mobility, including vehicle speed sensing and movement-direction detection.

The research team stated, “This achievement is significant in that it goes beyond simple materials research to secure semiconductor convergence technology that can be applied in real industrial settings,” adding, “It is expected to become a core fundamental technology for future electronic devices that require both flexibility and high performance.”

Meanwhile, GRRC is a flagship industry–academia cooperation program promoted by Gyeonggi Province to strengthen the competitiveness of local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It supports applied technology development and professional workforce training by leveraging universities’ research resources and technological capabilities. Since its launch in 1997, it has been operated for 27 years to date with support from Gyeonggi Province and Yongin City. Kyung Hee University’s GRRC Center is building an open research and development (R&D) environment to support semiconductor companies in the province in entering the global value chain and advancing the industrial ecosystem.

A Kyung Hee University official said, “Through the center, we expect to establish a global-level base for semiconductor research, development, and production,” adding, “We will continue efforts not only to support the development of advanced materials, devices, processes, and equipment for next-generation semiconductors, but also to cultivate specialized talent.”

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