Scaling up self-stratifying supercapacitive microbial fuel cell

Self-stratifying microbial fuel cells with three different electrodes sizes and volumes were operated in supercapacitive mode. As the electrodes size increased, the equivalent series resistance decreased, and the overall power was enhanced (small: ESR = 7.2 Ω and P_max = 13 mW; large: ESR = 4.2 Ω and P_max = 22 mW). Power density referred to cathode geometric surface area and displacement volume of the electrolyte in the reactors. With regards to the electrode wet surface area, the large size electrodes (L-MFC) displayed the lowest power density (460 μW cm⁻²) whilst the small and medium size electrodes (S-MFC, M-MFC) showed higher densities (668 μW cm⁻² and 633 μW cm⁻², respectively). With regard to the volumetric power densities the S-MFC, the M-MFC and the L-MFC had similar values (264 μW mL⁻¹, 265 μW mL⁻¹ and 249 μW cm⁻¹, respectively). Power density normalised in terms of carbon weight utilised for fabricating MFC cathodes-electrodes showed high output for smaller electrode size MFC (5811 μW g⁻¹-C- and 3270 μW g⁻¹-C- for the S-MFC and L-MFC, respectively) due to the fact that electrodes were optimised for MFC operations and not supercapacitive discharges. Apparent capacitance was high at lower current pulses suggesting high faradaic contribution. The electrostatic contribution detected at high current pulses was quite low. The results obtained give rise to important possibilities of performance improvements by optimising the device design and the electrode fabrication.     

Fast response and broadband self-powered photodetectors based on CZTS/SiNW core-shell heterojunctions for health monitoring

In this work, fast response and broadband self-powered photodetectors based on heterojunctions of vertical smooth silicon nanowires (SiNWs) were proposed, which were achieved through spin-coating p-CZTS on top of n-SiNWs adopting a simple two-step method. First, CZTS was uniformly and tightly attached to the sidewalls of SiNWs in the form of nanoparticles. The prepared CZTS/SiNWs core-shell heterojunctions exhibited typical rectification characteristics in dark and excellent light response characteristics in light illumination. Our device could perform self-driven detection under the UV-VIS-NIR light irradiation without an external energy supply. The responsivity and specific detectivity were estimated to be 14 mAW^-1 and 1.5 × 10¹¹ Jones, which can be improved to 0.35 AW^-1 and 1.2 × 10¹³ Jones at ?1.5 V bias. In addition, the present device also possesses distinct advantages of a large I_light/I_dark ratio exceeding 4.25 × 10⁴, fast response rate with rise/fall times of 1.4/14.2 μs, and outstanding environmental stability. Finally, a heart rate health monitoring application by CZTS/SiNWs detector was proposed. All these results may pave a way for the real application of the self-driven detector in the field of health monitoring in the future.     

Energy harvesting from a piezoelectric biomimetic fish tail

Understanding fish migratory patterns and movements often relies on tags that are externally or internally implanted. Energy harvesting from fish swimming may benefit the state of the art of fish-tags, by increasing their battery lifetime and expanding their sensory capabilities. Here, we investigate the feasibility of underwater energy harvesting from the vibrations of a biomimetic fish tail though piezoelectric materials. We propose and experimentally validate a modeling framework to predict the underwater vibration of the tail and the associated piezoelectric response. The tail is modeled as a geometrically tapered beam with heterogeneous physical properties, undergoing large amplitude vibration in a viscous fluid. Fluid-structure interactions are described through a hydrodynamic function, which accounts for added mass and nonlinear hydrodynamic damping. To demonstrate the practical benefit of energy harvesting, we assess the possibility of powering a wireless communication module using the underwater vibration of the tail hosting the piezoelectrics. The electrical energy generated by the piezoelectrics during the undulations of the tail is stored and used to power the wireless communication device. This preliminary test offers compelling evidence for future technological developments toward self-powered fish-tags.     

线功率密度和DNBR保护在田湾核电站的应用

堆内核测量系统是田湾核电站反应堆监测、控制和诊断系统的重要组成部分,在机组正常运行和瞬态工况下实时计算和监测反应堆参数。首次在田湾核电站将燃料棒线功率密度和偏离泡核沸腾比(DNBR)信号作为对反应堆的在线保护信号,达到了反应堆安全和经济运行的目的。     

铑自给能中子探测器的灵敏度

本文给出了铑自给能探测器的热中子灵敏度和中子灵敏度的理论计算公式、燃耗修正公式以及不同中子温度下的换算公式。运用这些公式对ZTRh 123型铑自给能探测器的热中子灵敏度和中子灵敏度进行了理论计算,并在反应堆中对其进行了实验验证。其结果表明,理论计算值和实验标定值是相吻合的。其偏差:热中子灵敏度为8.5％,中子灵敏度为3.9％。     

Development of a thermoelectric self-powered residential heating system

Self-powered heating equipment has the potential for high overall energy efficiency and can provide an effective means of providing on site power and energy security in residential homes. It is also attractive for remote communities where connection to the grid is not cost effective. Self-powered residential heating systems operate entirely on fuel combustion and do not need externally generated electricity. Excess power can be provided for other electrical loads. To realize this concept, one must develop a reliable and low maintenance means of generating electricity and integrate it into fuel-fired heating equipment. In the present work, a self-powered residential heating system was developed using thermoelectric power generation technology. A thermoelectric module with a power generation capacity of 550 W was integrated into a fuel-fired furnace. The thermoelectric module has a radial configuration that fits well with the heating equipment. The electricity generated is adequate to power all electrical components for a residential central heating system. The performance of the thermoelectric module was examined under various operating conditions. The effects of heat transfer conditions were studied in order to maximize electric power output. A mathematical model was established and used to look into the influence of heat transfer coefficients and other parameters on electric power output and efficiency.     

Spatially Bandgap-Graded Mo S2（1-x）Se2x Homojunctions for Self-Powered Visible–Near-Infrared Phototransistors

Ternary transition metal dichalcogenide alloys with spatially graded bandgaps are an emerging class of two-dimensional materials with unique features,which opens up new potential for device applications.Here,visible–near-infrared and self-powered phototransistors based on spatially bandgap-graded MoS2(1−x)Se2x alloys,synthesized by a simple and controllable chemical solution deposition method,are reported.The graded bandgaps,arising from the spatial grading of Se composition and thickness within a single domain,are tuned from 1.83 to 1.73 eV,leading to the formation of a homojunction with a builtin electric field.Consequently,a strong and sensitive gate-modulated photovoltaic effect is demonstrated,enabling the homojunction phototransistors at zero bias to deliver a photoresponsivity of 311 mA W−1,a specific detectivity up to^10^11 Jones,and an on/off ratio up to^10^4.Remarkably,when illuminated by the lights ranging from 405 to 808 nm,the biased devices yield a champion photoresponsivity of 191.5 A W−1,a specific detectivity up to^1012 Jones,a photoconductive gain of 10^6–10^7,and a photoresponsive time in the order of^50 ms.These results provide a simple and competitive solution to the bandgap engineering of two-dimensional materials for device applications without the need for p–n junctions.     

Synchronized switch harvesting applied to self-powered smart systems: Piezoactive microgenerators for autonomous wireless receivers

This paper introduces the conceptual architecture of a fully integrated, truly self-powered structural health monitoring (SHM) scheme. The challenge here is to power an array of numerous distributed actuators and sensors as well as wireless data transmission modules without recurring to heavy and costly wiring. Based on microgenerators which directly convert ambient mechanical energy into electrical energy, using the synchronized switch harvesting (SSH) method, the proposed solution allows avoiding the periodic replacement or reloading of batteries. This addresses environmental and economic issues at the same time, knowing that such elements are heavy, polluting and might be installed in rather inaccessible locations. Indeed, especially in airborne structures saving weight and maintenance cost is of priority importance.Previous work showed that such microgenerators provide a stand-alone power source, whose performances meet the requirements of autonomous wireless transmitters (AWTs) that comprise an acoustic Lamb wave's actuator and a radio frequency (RF) emitter (D. Guyomar, Y. Jayet, L. Petit, E. Lefeuvre, T. Monnier, C. Richard, M. Lallart, Synchronized switch harvesting applied to self-powered smart systems: Piezoactive microgenerators for autonomous wireless transmitters, Sens Actuators A: Phys. 138 (1) (2007) 151–160, doi:10.1016/j.sna.2007.04.009). Following this work, the present contribution presents a further step towards the integration of the SHM technique. It shows the ability of our microgenerators to provide enough energy to give logical autonomy to each self-powered sensing node, named autonomous wireless receiver (AWR), and thus to provide some local (decentralized) pre-processing ability to the SHM system.A preliminary design of the device using off-the-shelf electronics and surface mounted piezoelectric patches will be presented. Since the existence of a positive energy balance between the harvesting capabilities of the SSH technique and the energy requirements of the proposed device will be proved, the system formed by the combination of the AWR with the previously developed AWT, is a proof of concept of truly self-powered smart systems for damage detection in simple structures, setting apart application-specific optimization or miniaturization concerns that will be addressed in future works.     

磁流变阻尼器结构设计及功能集成研究现状分析

磁流变阻尼器是一种采用磁流变液为工作介质的智能型阻尼器,目前已在建筑、桥梁、车辆、机车等行业的减振抗震中得到广泛应用。阐述了磁流变阻尼器的工作原理;对阻尼器中激励线圈、液流通道及作动方式等不同结构进行了详细的结构分析,同时对集成位移检测、能量存储的自感应、自发电型磁流变阻尼器的功能集成进行了深入探讨。介绍了课题组设计的差动自感式磁流变阻尼器。相关分析和结论可为磁流变阻尼器的结构设计和功能集成提供参考。     

Applications of enzymatic biofuel cells in bioelectronic devices – A review

In this review paper, the authors have presented a brief conceptual summary of the applications of biofuel cell in general and enzymatic one in special with a short historical background, rather than their design and operation. Greater emphasis has been given to the recent progress in the development of biofuel cells and their applications for powering bioelectronic devices. Importance of electronic management of the energy derived from biological sources and interfacing enzyme-based biofuel cells with power consuming microelectronic devices have also been discussed briefly. The applications of the enzyme in the advancement of anode and cathode of biofuel cells based on the classification of single-enzyme and multi-enzyme catalysis system have also been briefly reviewed. In addition, the role of nanotechnology accompanied with redox mediators in enhancing the power output of enzymatic biofuel cells has been discussed with the help of some notable research efforts made recently with a particular emphasis on some of the latest and most imperative breakthroughs in EBFCs design based on buckypapers and carbon nanodots. The progress in implantable and self-powered bioelectrochemical devices with special heed to latest advances have been summarized in the light of several briefly described research contributions made in recent years. Moreover, the long-term stability and factors influencing the catalytic activity of enzymes in EBFCs have been reviewed in the context of the implantable and wearable application of these power sources. Finally, its prospects along with the prevailing scientific and technical challenges that will need to be resolved in the future for realizing their practical applications are discussed briefly.