All articles tagged with #energy harvesting
Researchers at University College London have developed high-efficiency perovskite solar cells capable of harvesting indoor light to power small devices, potentially eliminating the need for batteries in many electronics. These cells boast a record conversion rate of 37.6% and are produced using simple, printable methods from abundant materials, paving the way for more sustainable and cost-effective energy solutions.
Researchers have developed a surface pattern that allows ice disks to move autonomously by directing meltwater flow, which could inspire new energy generation methods and rapid defrosting techniques.
A device called Solar_nRF uses BPW34 photodiodes and an ultra-low-power boost converter to harvest solar energy, powering a Bluetooth sensor that transmits temperature data without batteries, demonstrating innovative low-power energy harvesting technology.
MIT researchers have developed a battery-free sensor that can harvest energy from its surroundings, allowing for the monitoring of machines in hard-to-reach places without the need for battery replacements or wired connections, potentially revolutionizing infrastructure monitoring.
MIT researchers have developed a self-powered sensor that can harvest energy from its environment, eliminating the need for batteries or special wiring. The sensor, which can be embedded in hard-to-reach places, such as inside a ship's engine, gathers data on power consumption and operations for extended periods. The researchers offer a design guide for an energy-harvesting sensor that can be applied to various power sources, making it suitable for factories, warehouses, and commercial spaces. The sensor's energy management system addresses challenges such as cold starting, energy storage, and control algorithms, enabling it to operate without a battery and transmit data using Bluetooth.
At CES 2024, Lenovo unveiled a keyboard and mouse set that harnesses kinetic energy from fidgety fingers to recharge, featuring a spinning dial on the keyboard and a winding ring on the mouse. The keyboard includes a solar panel for passive recharging and a spinning dial that converts kinetic energy into battery charge, while the mouse has a winding key for its battery. Lenovo claims that a few minutes of spinning or winding can provide significant battery charge, and the devices are also equipped with USB-C ports and wireless connectivity options. These prototype devices are not yet available for purchase.
Researchers have proposed two methods for harnessing energy from black holes, utilizing their rotational and gravitational properties. The first method involves charging the black hole battery by injecting massive, electrically charged particles, while the second method involves collecting Schwinger pairs formed near the event horizon. Although the practical use of black hole energy remains a distant possibility, exploring these possibilities provides insights into the mechanics of these astronomical phenomena.
Researchers at The University of Alabama in Huntsville have developed a new type of triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) that utilizes limestone putty to generate electricity from everyday motion. This breakthrough offers significant cost savings compared to traditional TENGs that use expensive nanotechnology-based fabrication methods. The use of "tacky" materials like limestone putty makes the device simpler to build and more cost-effective. The researchers also extended the operational frequency bandwidth by incorporating a metallized polyester sheet, allowing for a wider range of energy collection. The study is part of a Department of Defense program and has potential applications in wearable electronics and wireless sensor networks.
Researchers have developed a nanoscale turbine made of DNA that can rotate in both directions depending on the salt concentration in the solution. This breakthrough in nanotechnology could have applications in drug delivery, biomimetics, and energy harvesting.
Researchers have discovered a groundbreaking method to extract energy from ambient heat using graphene, contradicting long-established physics theories. By connecting freestanding graphene to a circuit with diodes and storage capacitors, the team demonstrated that thermal fluctuations can produce useful work by charging the capacitors. This discovery has significant commercial potential, particularly for wireless sensors, as it offers a new source of clean, limitless power that does not require a temperature gradient. The technology, known as Graphene Energy Harvester (GEH), has attracted interest from NTS Innovations, a nanotechnology company, which holds the exclusive license to develop GEH into commercial products.
Scientists at the University of Arkansas, led by Paul Thibado, have developed a method to harvest energy from thermal fluctuations in graphene. By connecting a special circuit to freestanding graphene, the team has successfully harnessed energy from the random motion of particles in thermal equilibrium, overcoming a long-standing challenge in energy harvesting.
Scientists have designed a novel nonlinear circuit that harnesses clean power using graphene. The study demonstrates that thermal fluctuations of freestanding graphene, when connected to a circuit with diodes having nonlinear resistance and storage capacitors, can produce useful work by charging the storage capacitors. The researchers found that the system satisfies the laws of thermodynamics and that larger storage capacitors yield more stored charge. This breakthrough paves the way for the development of graphene energy harvesters that can gather energy from the heat of the earth and store it for later use, offering a new source of power that does not require a temperature gradient.
Researchers have developed a device that can violate Kirchhoff's law of thermal radiation, which states that an object's absorption and emission efficiencies are equal. This breakthrough could have significant implications for energy harvesting systems and camouflage technology. The device combines a material with a strong magnetic-field response and a patterned structure to enhance absorption and emission in infrared wavelengths. By decoupling the absorptive and emissive properties of objects, higher energy conversion efficiencies can be achieved. This experimental proof challenges a law that has been upheld for over 150 years.
Researchers at Caltech have developed a device that breaks Kirchhoff's law of thermal radiation, which states that absorptive and emissive efficiencies are equal. By decoupling the absorptive and emissive properties of a material, the device could lead to more efficient energy harvesting systems and advancements in camouflage technology. The device combines a material with a strong magnetic-field response and a patterned structure to enhance absorption and emission in infrared wavelengths. This breakthrough could have significant implications for sustainable energy technologies.
Researchers at Caltech have developed a device that breaks Kirchhoff's law of thermal radiation, which states that the absorptive and emissive efficiencies of an object are equal. By decoupling these efficiencies, the device could have implications for energy harvesting systems and the development of camouflage. The device combines a material with a strong magnetic-field response and a patterned structure to enhance absorption and emission in infrared wavelengths. The experimental proof of breaking Kirchhoff's law could lead to higher energy conversion efficiencies and has been published in the journal Nature Photonics.