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Irish Independent
12-08-2025
- Science
- Irish Independent
ATU researchers achieve breakthrough in 3D printing technology
The research is led by Dr Aswathy Babu and a multidisciplinary team of researchers supervised by Prof Suresh C. Pillai. The work was carried out in collaboration with the University of Glasgow, Heriot-Watt University, and I-Form, the SFI Research Centre for Advanced Manufacturing at University College Dublin. This cutting-edge innovation overcomes long-standing challenges associated with high-temperature processing and weak interfacial bonding between polymers and fabrics, unlocking new possibilities for next-generation wearable energy harvesting systems. This work was published in the journal Nano Energy in June 2025. This innovation directly addresses several key limitations in the field: it eliminates the need for adhesives or complex multi-step processes, achieves excellent adhesion between the 3D-printed polymer and textile, and delivers robust triboelectric performance. The fabricated devices show high output voltage and current, superior durability, and real-world functionality, including the ability to power small electronic devices and enable IoT-based touch sensing. These properties make the technology ideal for applications in wearable health monitoring and environmental sensing. The team's breakthrough centres on the fabrication of textile-based triboelectric nanogenerators (T-TENGs), capable of converting mechanical motion into usable electrical energy. Using a low-cost fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printing technique, the researchers successfully deposited polypropylene (PP)—a triboactive thermoplastic—onto conductive, flexible fabrics. The result is a mechanically robust, finely patterned surface that enables strong dielectric-fabric adhesion and exceptional triboelectric performance. ADVERTISEMENT Professor Suresh C. Pillai, Irish Principal Investigator of the RI-EPSRC project and Head of the Nanotechnology and Bioengineering Research Group at ATU, said; 'This is a significant milestone in wearable energy technology. 'Our direct 3D printing technique creates a highly uniform and intimate bond between the dielectric polymer and the fabric electrode. 'This interface quality is crucial for boosting energy conversion efficiency. 'Through advanced surface patterning and multilayer optimisation, we've significantly enhanced triboelectric output compared to traditional fabrication methods.' Lead researcher, Dr Aswathy Babu added; 'This research provides a scalable and cost-effective route to integrate energy harvesting technologies into everyday clothing. 'By leveraging low-cost 3D printing and achieving strong bonding between polymer and fabric, we have enabled the development of washable, stretchable, and high-performance energy generators suitable for real-world applications.' This research is part of a €1.5 million collaborative project funded by Research Ireland (formerly SFI) and the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The consortium is led by Prof Daniel Mulvihill of the University of Glasgow, and includes researchers from ATU, Tyndall National Institute, and Heriot-Watt University, UK. The project's overarching goal is to harness human motion as a renewable energy source using triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) technology—an eco-friendly and sustainable energy harvesting approach. The resulting T-TENGs are not only highly efficient but also flexible, durable, washable, and scalable—key attributes for real-world deployment. Demonstrating their practical applicability, the team successfully integrated these energy harvesters into an IoT-enabled adaptive touch sensing system, pointing to immediate potential in domains such as smart wearables, real-time health monitoring, soft robotics, and environmental sensing. 'This work marks a pivotal step toward the development of truly self-powered wearable electronics,' added Prof. Suresh C. Pillai. 'By combining material science, additive manufacturing, and IoT integration, we're laying the groundwork for a new generation of sustainable, user-friendly, and intelligent devices capable of real-time data tracking and wireless connectivity.' Congratulating the research team, ATU President, Dr Orla Flynn said; 'I want to commend Prof Suresh C. Pillai, Dr Aswathy Babu, and the wider research team for their ambition and dedication in addressing real-world challenges through applied science. 'Their work in wearable technology highlights the potential of smart materials to transform how we monitor health, interact with our environment, and power the devices we use every day.' The research sets the stage for commercial-scale production of customisable, self-sustaining electronic textiles for wearable electronics. It opens new horizons in energy-autonomous devices that respond and adapt to their users and environments.
Irish Examiner
25-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Stryker promotes 3D printing skills in primary schools
Five primary schools from across Ireland have emerged as winners of 'Manufacturing a Healthy Future,' a 3D printing design challenge which aims to foster STEM skills in classrooms. MedTech company Stryker has run the primary school programme since 2021, in conjunction with I-Form, Science Foundation Ireland's research centre for advanced manufacturing, equipping teachers with 3D printing skills and tools to introduce manufacturing technology in classrooms. This is exclusive subscriber content. Already a subscriber? Sign in Take us with you this summer. Annual €130€65 Best value Monthly €12€6 / month
Business Post
10-05-2025
- Business
- Business Post
Talent pipeline vital to ensuring our position as ‘hub of excellence'
One of Ireland's great strengths for companies considering opening an office here is our wealth of qualified talent, thanks to our well-established and highly respected third-level institutions. As the pace of technological change continues to accelerate, ensuring we have a solid pipeline of graduates coming through in key areas will be vital to safeguard our foreign direct investment (FDI) companies, especially with the threat of tariffs still looming. The importance of qualified talent cannot be understated, said Prof Denis Dowling, director of I-Form, the SFI Research Centre for Advanced Manufacturing. 'A recent survey of Irish manufacturers entitled Manufacturing in Ireland 2024, carried out by the business representative group Ibec, highlighted that 'Embracing digitalisation and AI across the manufacturing sector is essential',' he said. 'This report went on to outline that Ibec's highest priority for government was to 'help manufacturers develop strong talent pipelines'. One of the key reasons that talent is critical is that the ability to adopt advanced technological solutions is dependent on having a trained workforce. Thus, in addition to sector specific manufacturing knowledge, there is increasingly the need to combine this with expertise in areas such as digitalisation and sustainability,' he added. Manufacturing, said Prof Dowling, is a significant contributor to Irish economic growth, with over 221,000 people directly employed in the sector. 'The processing technologies required to manufacture high-tech products such as medical devices, pharmaceutical and electronic components are rapidly changing, arising from developments in areas such as AI, robotics and sustainable manufacturing technologies. The successful introduction of new technologies can have a positive transformative impact on manufacturing productivity, resilience, as well as environmental performance. This was recently highlighted by IDA Ireland in their 2025-2029 strategy document, which identified digitalisation and sustainability as two of the four strategic growth drivers for FDI into Ireland.' I-Form is contributing significantly to the success of the sector, with the aim of delivering the next level of understanding and control for complex manufacturing processes. 'The centre brings together a nationwide pool of expertise in materials science, engineering, AI and materials modelling,' said Prof Dowling. 'Through its academic outputs such as keynote papers, scientific publications (670 to date), conference organisation etc, along with national and international research collaborations, the centre is helping Ireland to strengthen its international reputation as a hub of excellence in advanced manufacturing.' The I-Form Centre is very active in promoting broader awareness of career opportunities Research is a vital part of I-Form's work, often carried out hand-in-hand with the industry. 'Our mission is to shape the future of manufacturing through high-impact research into the application of digital technologies to materials processing,' said Prof Dowling. 'The objective is to improve process understanding, modelling and control, thus increasing the sustainability, as well as the competitiveness of Irish manufacturing. The centre also carries out extensive collaborative manufacturing research projects with industry. This includes companies involved in the manufacture of medical devices, pharmaceuticals and food products. The overall goal is to enhance processing efficiencies, along with reducing the time, cost as well as environmental impact of developing and optimising new products and processes. 'An example that is being evaluated in industry is a 'recommender system', which provides close to real-time operator feedback for the identification of processing anomalies. This feedback is based on a combination of machine learning evaluation of large quantities of in-process data, combined with an examination of previous part results obtained from the process. A further area of research is on developing and validating numerical methods for quantifying sustainability and circularity of manufacturing processes, to help manufacturers optimise both their material and energy usage.' For the future security of FDI, however, perhaps the centre's strongest output is the wealth of talent it brings to the industry. I-Form has been funded by Research Ireland in two successive phases, with its phase I programme extending from 2017-2023. 'During this period, I-Form provided training to 167 PhD and post-doc researchers,' said Prof Dowling. 'The centre is currently recruiting additional researchers to join 87 currently employed in the centre's phase II research programme (2024-2029). 'These I-Form researchers combine deep core research competencies in areas such as engineering and science, with the broader professional skills required in the future manufacturing workplace. Thus, the centre supports the 'digital-ready' and 'sustainability-ready' talent pipeline, which is vital for advanced manufacturing companies. 'While digital skills are essential, I-Form graduates also receive training in communications, leaderships, teamwork, inclusion and delivering impact through research. These non-technical skills are also key to ensuring new employees can contribute immediately to the goals and objectives of the hiring company.' And, with a nod to the long-term sustainability of the sector, I-Form is also playing a part in encouraging more into the industry through a popular schools initiative. 'The I-Form Centre is very active in promoting broader awareness of career opportunities in the manufacturing sector. We organise an award-winning inter-school competition for primary schools, to help create awareness on the importance of manufacturing. In fact, one of its training programmes relating 3D printing and sustainability has been delivered to over 100 Irish primary and secondary school teachers last 18 months alone,' Prof Dowling said. 'It is estimated that these teachers will, in turn, teach approximately 1,800 students. The impact from these school programmes will take time to be seen; however, it is clear from the sheer enthusiasm shown by the pupils taking part in the inter-school competitions that Ireland's manufacturing is in safe hands.'
