About

Emre Salman is a Professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Stony Brook University. His research focuses on nanoscale integrated circuit design, emerging technologies for future electronic systems, highly heterogeneous integrated systems, and digital and mixed signal circuits. His work involves developing innovative solutions in these areas to advance electronic and computational systems.

Research topics

• Computer Science
• Telecommunications
• Electronic engineering
• Artificial Intelligence
• Computer Security
• Engineering
• Electrical engineering
• Materials science
• Physics
• Computer architecture
• Nanotechnology
• Optoelectronics
• Computer network
• Mathematics
• Computer engineering

Selected publications

• Porous Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Load Sensing of Total Knee Replacement

  IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics · 2026-01-01

  articleOpen access

  This study addresses the critical need for self-powered, durable pressure sensors in total knee replacement (TKR) implants to enable the collection of postoperative information. The scope of this research encompasses the design, development, and testing of a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) integrated into an instrumented knee implant for energy harvesting and pressure sensing. The authors’ unique approach involves utilizing a porous silicone rubber as a dielectric material. This allows the TENG to withstand forces up to 2000 N and generate a maximum power output of <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$18\,\mu \text{W}$</tex-math></inline-formula>. Theoretical modeling combined with experimental validation provides deeper insight into the fundamental operating principles. We elucidate the TENG output performance under an MTS servo-hydraulic load frame compared with a VIVO joint simulator. Other important characteristics, such as load sensitivity and the influence of porosity, are also presented. The proposed TENG shows great potential as a pressure sensor in TKR applications, offering high sensitivity, stability, and low cost.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• State-of-the-Art Power Transfer Methods in Triboelectric Energy Harvesters [Feature]

  IEEE Circuits and Systems Magazine · 2026-01-01

  article

  Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are attracting increasing attention as viable power sources for self-powered systems, due to advantages such as material and form-factor versatility, compatibility with low-frequency mechanical stimuli, and scalable, low-cost fabrication. Unlike conventional harvesters, TENGs exhibit two device-level characteristics that critically shape interface-circuit design: (i) a time-varying internal capacitance that induces a strongly dynamic source impedance, and (ii) a significantly high effective source impedance that yields very high open-circuit voltages at low currents. These characteristics directly affect impedance matching, rectification, voltage conversion, and maximum power point tracking (MPPT) strategies for maximum power transfer. While TENGs and piezoelectric energy harvesters (PEHs) share similar lumped electrical models, the time variance and voltage/current operating regime of TENGs fundamentally limit the portability of PEH-oriented power transfer methods. This paper provides two contributions. First, we introduce a figure-of-merit (FoM) that serves as an energy-extraction coefficient: the fraction of the ideal maximum power of the TENG device (under instantaneous impedance tracking) that appears at the rectifier input, typically the first stage of a power management unit (PMU). The FoM exposes losses arising from mismatch at the device-PMU boundary, thereby helping circuit designers localize dominant loss mechanisms (e.g., impedance mismatch, rectifier topology or suboptimal MPPT policies) and guiding device researchers to prioritize physical parameters (e.g., dielectric thickness, displacement, electrode area) with explicit awareness of interface constraints. Secondly, we conduct a thorough evaluation of the suitability of advanced PEH-derived methods, such as rectifiers (both passive and active configurations), DC–DC conversion, and MPPT, for application to TENGs. We derive theoretical upper bounds on extractable power for representative rectifier families under TENG-specific operating conditions, and we analyze technology-imposed voltage limits and their implications for architecture and control. We also survey recent TENG demonstrations together with their PMU interfaces and interpret reported performance through the proposed FoM. Overall, the analysis highlights that the unique characteristics of TENGs and technology limits for the voltages must be explicitly accounted for while developing interface circuits to realize maximum power extraction. This process can significantly benefit from coordinated device–circuit co-design via system-level metrics such as the proposed FoM.

  PublisherDOI

• Porous triboelectric nanogenerator to enhance self-powered load monitoring of total knee replacement

  2025-05-13

  article

  Developing self-powered, durable pressure sensors for Total Knee Replacement (TKR) enhances longevity, ensures consistent performance, and provides critical post-operative information. This study presents a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) integrated into an instrumented knee implant for energy harvesting and pressure sensing. Operating in vertical contact mode, it utilizes porous silicone rubber (SR) dielectric to improve electrical stability, and mechanical durability. The nanogenerator divides the tibial tray into two compartments for load imbalance detection. Tests simulating human walking showed the device withstands forces up to 2200N, generating a maximum of 18&mu;W at 1Hz under harmonic load and a maximum of 7.5&mu;W at 0.8Hz under gait loading with a VIVO joint simulator. The performance of the TENG was stable over 3000 cycles generating a peak-to-peak voltage of 350V . The porous structure enhances charge trapping, energy storage, and system efficiency. The increased power compared to previous work enhances energy harvesting capability and strengthens its potential for self-powered, real-time load monitoring at the knee joint.

  PublisherDOI

• Power Optimization of Triboelectric Energy Harvesters Based on Rectifier Turn-on Time

  2025-08-10 · 1 citations

  articleSenior author

  This paper describes a method for maximizing the power delivered to the rectifier in energy harvesters. It is demonstrated that there is an optimal turn-on time for rectifiers to maximize power transfer from the harvester. Next, a maximum power point tracking methodology based on rectifier turn-on time (RTOT-MPPT) is developed for triboelectric energy harvesters. The primary advantage of the proposed approach is the relative independence of the optimal turn-on time on the frequency and peak voltage of the harvester output. Thus, the proposed RTOT-MPPT method reduces the complexity of power tracking and can be efficient for a wider range of harvesters. The method is implemented for a triboelectric harvester and simulated in a 180 n m industrial HV-CMOS process, demonstrating that 34% higher power is delivered to the rectifier in each cycle.

  PublisherDOI

• Optimal Load Capacitance for Triboelectric Energy Harvesters to Maximize Transient Power

  2025-08-10 · 1 citations

  articleSenior author

  This paper describes an analytic method to determine the optimal load capacitance of a full wave rectifier (FWR) in triboelectric energy harvesters. The amount of average power delivered from the harvester to the rectifier grows in each cycle, eventually reaching a peak value. In steady state, the average rectifier power depends on the harvester characteristics and the load capacitance of the rectifier. For a given harvester, if the load capacitance is too small, the rectifier power does not reach the maximum power in steady state. Alternatively, if the load capacitance is too large, the number of cycles to reach maximum power increases, causing additional delay. An analytic method is proposed to estimate the optimum value of this capacitance, which ensures maximum power while minimizing the transient time. The results are validated with the measurement results of a triboelectric harvester.

  PublisherDOI

• Power Optimization of TENGs via Load Capacitance Sizing

  IEEE Sensors Journal · 2025-09-04 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  A power optimization strategy is described for triboelectric energy harvesting systems by optimizing the load capacitor size within a full wave rectifier (FWR). In AC harvesters such as triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) with an FWR, the average power delivered to the rectifier increases in each cycle, ultimately reaching a steady state determined by system parameters. Through cycle-level analysis of input voltage, current, and rectifier turn-on time during mechanical motion, an optimal load capacitance is identified that maximizes power delivery while minimizing transient time to reach this maximum power. This approach achieves peak power delivery via capacitor sizing alone, eliminating the need for additional circuitry. Experimental results using a vertical contact-separation triboelectric nanogenerator with internal capacitance varying from 24pF to 96pF demonstrate that the optimal rectifier capacitance of 390pF achieves maximum power delivery (900nW at 1.7Hz and 2.7μW at 5Hz) within the second cycle, while suboptimal capacitances either fail to reach peak power or delay it to the seventh cycle or later. Sensitivity analysis reveals that the method exhibits high robustness, with capacitances within ±30% of the optimal value can still maintain ≥ 90% of peak power, providing flexibility when implementing or selecting the capacitor size.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• 3D printed CNT/TPU triboelectric nanogenerator for load monitoring of total knee replacement

  Smart Materials and Structures · 2025-06-01 · 10 citations

  articleOpen accessCorresponding

  Abstract This study presents the development and characterization of a novel triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) designed as a self-powered sensor for load monitoring in total knee replacement (TKR) implants. The triboelectric layers comprise a 3D-printed thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) matrix with carbon nanotube (CNT) nanoparticles and kapton tape, sandwiched between two copper electrodes. To optimize sensor performance, the proposed CNT/TPU TENG sensor is fabricated with varying CNT concentrations and thicknesses, enabling a comprehensive analysis of how material composition and structural parameters influence energy harvesting efficiency. The 1% CNT/TPU composite demonstrates the highest power output among the tested samples. The solid CNT/TPU-based TENG generated the apparent output power of 4.1 µ W under a cyclic compressive load of 2100 N, measured across a 1.6 GΩ load resistance and over a nominal contact area of 15.9 cm 2 , while the foam CNT/TPU film achieved a higher apparent output power of 6.9 µ W measured across a 0.9 GΩ load resistance with the same nominal area. The generated power is sufficient to operate a power management and ADC circuit based on our earlier work. The sensors exhibit a stable open-circuit voltage of 320 V for the foam layer and 275 V for the solid one. Sensitivities are 80.50 mV N −1 ( <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mtext>⩽</mml:mtext> <mml:mstyle scriptlevel="0"/> <mml:mn>1600</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> N) and 24.60 mV N −1 (&gt; 1600 N) for foam CNT/TPU film, demonstrating the integrated sensor capability for wide-range force sensing on TKR implants. The foam CNT/TPU-based TENG maintained stable performance over 16 000 load cycles, confirming its potential for long-term use inside the TKR. Additionally, the dielectric constant of the CNT/TPU composite was found to increase with increasing CNT concentration. The proposed CNT/TPU TENG sensor offers a broad working range and robust energy-harvesting efficiency, making it appropriate for self-powered load sensing in biomedical applications.

  PublisherDOI

• Performance of piezoelectric and triboelectric transducers under gait loading for energy harvesting and load monitoring in total knee replacements

  Nano Energy · 2025-05-11 · 14 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Optimized Switching in Energy Harvesting Circuit at Interface with Triboelectric Nanogenerator

  2025-08-10

  article

  We propose a power management strategy that maximizes the power harvested from a triboelectric nanogenerator using a Parallel Synchronous Switched Harvesting on Inductor (P-SSHI)-based rectifier. By analyzing the charge transfer from the rectifier to the DC-DC converter, we observe increase in the extracted power by limiting the rectifier capacitor discharging. We design and implement a power management system based on the proposed switching technique. The technique is suitable for integration into a power management system of smart selfpowered sensors, such as those used in smart knee implants following total knee replacement (TKR) surgery. We demonstrate 37% increase in the harvested power at the TENG interface compared to the conventional switching in P-SSHI-based rectifier.

  PublisherDOI

• Porous Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Load Sensing of Total Knee Replacement

  The Open Repository - Binghamton (Binghamton University) · 2025-12-01

  article

  This study addresses the critical need for self-powered, durable pressure sensors in Total Knee Replacement (TKR) implants to enable the collection of post-operative information. The scope of this research encompasses the design, development, and testing of a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) integrated into an instrumented knee implant for energy harvesting and pressure sensing. The authors’ unique approach involves utilizing a porous silicone rubber as a dielectric material. This allows the TENG to withstand forces up to 2000 N and generate a maximum power output of 18 μW. Theoretical modeling combined with experimental validation provides deeper insight into the fundamental operating principles. We elucidate the TENG output performance under an MTS servo-hydraulic load frame compared with a VIVO joint simulator. Other important characteristics, such as load sensitivity and the influence of porosity, are also presented. The proposed TENG shows great potential as a pressure sensor in TKR applications, offering high sensitivity, stability, and low cost.

  Publisher

Recent grants

• An implantable self-powered load sensor for total knee replacement health monitoring

  NIH · $349k · 2017–2020

• SHF: Small: Collaborative Research: Managing Thermal Integrity in Monolithic 3D Integrated Systems

  NSF · $250k · 2019–2023

• CAREER: Leveraging Three-Dimensional Integration Technology for Highly Heterogeneous Systems-on-Chip

  NSF · $454k · 2013–2019

• SaTC: STARSS: Small: Collaborative: Managing Hardware Security in Three-Dimensional Integrated Circuits

  NSF · $147k · 2017–2021

• CPS: Breakthrough: Charge-Recycling based Computing Paradigm for Wirelessly Powered Internet-of-Things

  NSF · $425k · 2016–2021

Frequent coauthors

• Hailang Wang

  Southwest Forestry University

  59 shared

• Benton H. Calhoun

  University of Virginia

  49 shared

• Youngmin Kim

  Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

  49 shared

• Wen‐Tsung Huang

  Chi Mei Medical Center

  49 shared

• Brandon Rumberg

  West Virginia University

  49 shared

• Fadi Kurdahi

  University of California, Irvine

  49 shared

• Nikil Dutt

  49 shared

• David W. Graham

  West Virginia University

  49 shared

Labs

• Electrical and Computer EngineeringPI

Education

• Ph.D., Electrical and Computer Engineering

  Stony Brook University

  2006

• M.S., Electrical and Computer Engineering

  Stony Brook University

  2002

• B.S., Electrical and Electronics Engineering

  Middle East Technical University

  1999