{"title":"Self-powered sensors utilizing single-pillar thermocells with pyrolytic graphite sheet electrodes: harvesting body heat and solar thermal energy","authors":"Lixian Jiang, Teruo Ebihara, Masakazu Mukaida, Kouki Akaike, Kazumasa Shimamoto, Shohei Horike, Qingshuo Wei","doi":"10.1016/j.mtener.2024.101668","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"This study investigates the development of self-powered sensors employing single-pillar thermocells to harness body heat and solar thermal energy. A pyrolytic graphite sheet was selected for its low water vapor permeability, and its surface was modified to be hydrophilic to minimize interfacial resistance. Two types of DC–DC converters, Asahi Kasei Microdevices AP4473 and matrix mercury, underwent evaluation for compatibility with these thermocells. The compact 1.5 cm (1 cm × 1 cm × 1.5 cm) device effectively powered the AP4473 converter, illuminating a light-emitting diode. A larger device (2.5 cm × 2.5 cm × 1.5 cm) efficiently drove the matrix mercury converter, enabling the operation of bluetooth low-power sensors. These self-powered sensors wirelessly provided humidity and temperature data using solar thermal energy for approximately 4 h per day during peak temperature differences in January. This study showcases the potential of thermocells for sustainable energy harvesting and suggests avenues for future research, such as exploring alternative heat sources like geothermal energy to power these sensors.","PeriodicalId":18277,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Energy","volume":"39 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.0000,"publicationDate":"2024-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Materials Today Energy","FirstCategoryId":"88","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtener.2024.101668","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"CHEMISTRY, PHYSICAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
This study investigates the development of self-powered sensors employing single-pillar thermocells to harness body heat and solar thermal energy. A pyrolytic graphite sheet was selected for its low water vapor permeability, and its surface was modified to be hydrophilic to minimize interfacial resistance. Two types of DC–DC converters, Asahi Kasei Microdevices AP4473 and matrix mercury, underwent evaluation for compatibility with these thermocells. The compact 1.5 cm (1 cm × 1 cm × 1.5 cm) device effectively powered the AP4473 converter, illuminating a light-emitting diode. A larger device (2.5 cm × 2.5 cm × 1.5 cm) efficiently drove the matrix mercury converter, enabling the operation of bluetooth low-power sensors. These self-powered sensors wirelessly provided humidity and temperature data using solar thermal energy for approximately 4 h per day during peak temperature differences in January. This study showcases the potential of thermocells for sustainable energy harvesting and suggests avenues for future research, such as exploring alternative heat sources like geothermal energy to power these sensors.
期刊介绍:
Materials Today Energy is a multi-disciplinary, rapid-publication journal focused on all aspects of materials for energy.
Materials Today Energy provides a forum for the discussion of high quality research that is helping define the inclusive, growing field of energy materials.
Part of the Materials Today family, Materials Today Energy offers authors rigorous peer review, rapid decisions, and high visibility. The editors welcome comprehensive articles, short communications and reviews on both theoretical and experimental work in relation to energy harvesting, conversion, storage and distribution, on topics including but not limited to:
-Solar energy conversion
-Hydrogen generation
-Photocatalysis
-Thermoelectric materials and devices
-Materials for nuclear energy applications
-Materials for Energy Storage
-Environment protection
-Sustainable and green materials