“A new concept in energy harvesting could capture energy that is currently mostly wasted due to its characteristic low frequency and use it to power next-generation electronic devices. In a project funded by electronics giant Samsung, a team of Penn State materials scientists and electrical engineers has designed a mechanical energy transducer based on flexible organic ionic diodes that points toward a new direction in scalable energy harvesting of unused mechanical energy in the environment, including wind, ocean waves and human motion. Devices to harvest ambient mechanical energy to convert to electricity are widely used to power wearable electronics, biomedical devices and the so-called Internet of Things (IoT) — everyday objects that wirelessly connect to the internet. The most common of these devices, based on the piezoelectric effect, operate most efficiently at high frequency, greater than 10 vibrations per second. But at lower frequencies their performance falls off dramatically.”
Related Content
Related Posts:
- A new twist on 2D materials may lead to improved electronic, optical devices
- Graphene made with lasers for wearable health devices
- Ferroelectrics everywhere?
- New sensor can detect valuable rare earth element in non-traditional sources
- Graphene key for novel hardware security
- Helpful, engineered ‘living’ machines in the future?
- The muon’s magnetic moment fits just fine
- Sushi-like rolled 2D heterostructures may lead to new miniaturized electronics
- New piezoelectric material remains effective to high temperatures
- Transistors built from ultra-thin 2D materials take a step forward