International Research for Self-Powered Sensor Technology

The project team on Cerro Santa Lucía in Santiago de Chile, from left to right: Gnanaseelan Natarajan PhD, Christian Orgeldinger, Prof. Stephan Tremmel, Prof. Gerhard Fischerauer, Annika Hilgert, Philipp Mattauch, Alice Fischerauer, Prof. Max Marian

Supported jointly by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Chilean National Agency for Research and Development (ANID), the project titled “Wear-resistant triboelectric nanogenerators based on thin-film technology for self-powered sensor systems” brought together Prof. Stephan Tremmel, Christian Orgeldinger and Annika Hilgert from the Chair of Engineering Design and CAD (LSCAD) at the University of Bayreuth, and Prof. Gerhard Fischerauer, Alice Fischerauer and Philipp Mattauch from the Chair of Measurement and Control Engineering (MRT). In Santiago de Chile, they met their project partners Prof. Max Marian and Gnanaseelan Natarajan, PhD at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC).

The visit focused on both scientific collaboration and cultural exchange. Following a campus tour led by Prof. Marian, during which the Bayreuth team explored the infrastructure and laboratories of PUC, the researchers presented their current findings and planned the next steps in the joint project. A workshop was also held for PUC students, featuring expert talks on energy harvesting and, in particular, triboelectric nanogenerators. The event attracted considerable interest and sparked lively discussions.

Expert lecture by the Bayreuth team during the workshop on triboelectric nanogenerators

During a meeting with Prof. Loreto Valenzuela Roediger, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at PUC, the university’s internationally oriented study programmes were introduced. In dialogue with Prof. Tremmel, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Bayreuth, and Prof. Fischerauer, Senator of the University of Bayreuth, the discussion focused on strategies for attracting international students and on potential future exchange formats between Bayreuth and Santiago de Chile. The hosts also organised a diverse cultural programme, including art, local cuisine and Chilean traditions.

Visit to the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile following the discussion with the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, from left to right: Prof. Max Marian, Prof. Stephan Tremmel, Prof. Gerhard Fischerauer, Prof. Loreto Valenzuela Roediger, Philipp Mattauch, Christian Orgeldinger, Annika Hilgert, Sofía Nicolai

After the project-related activities, the delegation continued their journey to Valparaíso and then to the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. A highlight of the trip was the visit to Chuquicamata, the world’s largest copper mine near Calama. The group gained fascinating insights into the mining industry, which plays a vital role in Chile’s economy. The sheer scale of the mine and the technologies used on site left a lasting impression.

From left to right: Christian Orgeldinger, Annika Hilgert and Philipp Mattauch at the world’s largest copper mine, Chuquicamata.

The Chile trip was not only a significant milestone in the joint engineering research project, but also a valuable opportunity for intercultural exchange and personal encounters with project partners.

We would like to express our sincere thanks to the DFG and ANID for their financial support.