Ennetech by Erasmus and Kinkajou Authors

 

 

Erasmus and Kinkajou share their vision of technologies that will help us on our way.

Nanoscale Power Supplies

 

 

Powering of nano-devices will restrict the technology's implementation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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KinkajouKinkajou : How are Nanotech Machines Self-Powered?

ErasmusErasmus : Researchers are pursuing several different routes toward power generation on a miniature scale.

Options include exploiting random vibrations or motions (such as those near a roadway), temperature gradients (for example, ground temperature is fairly constant several meters below the surface, so link this environment to another with a different temperature), biochemistry, and external energy sources such as ultrasonic waves or even audible noises.


Research with the atomic force microscope (AFM) showed the presence of voltage peaks when particular materials (for example zinc oxide nano wires) were stressed or compressed.

This suggested the possibility of harvesting electrical energy from mechanical events in the nano world. These could include such events as a heartbeat, muscle action or the movement of the lung in a breath.

Another future is the coupling of nano generators with solar voltaic input power, possibly generating a form of independent “smart dust”.  Indium-Tin-Oxide (ITO) constructs have been shown to be transparent, again suggesting other possible applications.

KinkajouKinkajou : How can machines produce power at nano-scales?
ErasmusErasmus : The main approaches are:

  • Piezoelectric: main subtypes: VING and LING and NEG: both generate AC current
  • Triboelectric: an organic method for harvesting mechanical energy
  • Pyroelectric

ErasmusErasmus : Piezoelectric nano generators
An external force is applied to the nano structure e.g. to the nano wire creating de-formation.

This creates an electrical field within the nano structure, the stretched component developing a positive electrical potential and the compressed component a negative electrical potential. A force being applied and relaxed could then be harnessed to produce an alternating current.

Illustration (Below):
What is illustrated is the Working principle of nano-generator where an individual nanowire is subjected to the force exerted perpendicular to the growing direction of nanowire.

  • (a) An AFT tip is swept through the tip of the nanowire. Only the negatively charged portion will allow the current to flow through the interface.

  • (b) The nanowire is integrated with the counter electrode . As above, the electrons are transported from the compressed portion of nanowire to the counter electrode because of Schottky contact.

 

Mechanical NanoElectrical General NEG
Mechanical NanoElectrical General NEG

Illustration (Below) : Working principle of nano-generator where an individual nanowire is subjected to the force exerted parallel to the growing direction of nanowireParrallel NEG Parrallel NEG

ErasmusErasmus :  Vertical nanowire Integrated Nano-generator (VING).

A VING contains three main layers which are the base electrode, vertical nano wires with piezoelectric capacities, and the counter electrode.
A modified version has been incorporated into clothing. Each unit includes two micro-fibres.

One of the micro wire fibres is coated with metal to form a Schottky contact, and the other microfibre incorporates deformable nano fibres and serves as the counter electrode. Due to the partial contact construction, this construct generates DC current.

This would suggest a possible future of incorporating biological monitoring technology into clothing, useful for example in monitoring a human during exercise.

Vertical NEG Vertical NEG

ErasmusErasmus :  Lateral nanowire Integrated Nano-generator (LING).

LING also has three elements. The lateral nano wires run parallel to the metallic counter electrode wires providing Schottky contact, both of these elements being layered horizontally across the base electrode.

LateraL NEG LateraL NEG

Erasmus Erasmus: Nano-composite Electrical Generators (NEG).
In this configuration, the nano wires are embedded in a polymer matrix between the two electrodes (base electrode and counter electrode).

KinkajouKinkajou : So you have mentioned the piezo- electric nano generators and the VING and LING and NEG subtypes. How about the TENG (tribe electric nano generator)?

NEG nano Generator NEG nano Generator

ErasmusErasmus : The Triboelectric nano generator (TENG)
Two organic thin films are opposed, each attached to the electrode layer on the back side. The films generate opposite tribo-polarity. Electrons being drawn into the electrode layer run through attached wires to balance the potential.

This type of nano generator is unique as it uses “organic” materials for harvesting mechanical energy.
The Triboelectric nano-generator has three basic operation modes: vertical contact-separation mode, in-plane sliding mode, and single-electrode mode. They have different characteristics and are suitable for different applications

 

  • TENG: Vertical Contact-Separation Mode
  • TENG: Lateral Sliding Mode
  • TENG: Single-Electrode Mode

 

Many materials (organic or inorganic) exhibit the tribo-electric affect so power generators can be designed for many applications as many different materials as diverse as: metal is silk or wood can be used.

 

TENG Single Electrode
TENG Single Electrode

Tribo Electric Generator Tribo Electric Generator

TENG Sliding TENG Sliding

KinkajouKinkajou : So we have mentioned the piezoelectric and the tribo- electric nano generator types. I think you have yet to mention the pyroelectric nano generator subtype.

ErasmusErasmus : Ok now for “Pyroelectric nano generators”

 

In this device, temperature variation over time creates polarisation and a charge variation in a nano wire (e.g. zinc oxide nano wires maintain pyroelectric charge separation due to their semiconducting characteristics).

By linking these elements in a circuit, this “pyroelectric effect” creates a current which can be harvested. These devices can operate in a uniform thermal field, relying on temperature variation in time to create the potential energy exploited by the device. Heating and cooling can both generate power, (with different polarity).

The pyroelectric nano-generator has a good stability, and the characteristic coefficient of heat flow conversion into electricity is estimated to be ∼0.05–0.08 Vm2/W.

Generally in thermal-based electricity generation, the “Seebeck effect” (not the pyroelectric effect) is exploited. A “consistent” temperature difference between the two ends of the device drives the movement of charge carriers (electrons). This structure relies on the existence of a thermal gradient across the generator.

 

Pyroelectric Nano Generator Pyroelectric Nano Generator

 

Pyroelectric nano generators are likely to be useful where the time-dependent temperature fluctuations exist such as in temperature sensors. They do not require a consistent temperature variation and use the “Seebeck Effect” to drive electricity generation . Interestingly, the device can be used both as an active sensor for measuring temperature variation as well as for power generation at the same time.

 

 

 


ErasmusErasmus : The pyroelectric nano generator can operate using the primary or secondary pyroelectric effect.

 

The mechanism of the pyroelectric nano-generator based on a composite structure of pyroelectric nanowires. (Following: ) Schematic diagrams of the pyroelectric nano-generator with negative electric dipoles under room temperature (a), heated (b) and cooled (c) conditions. The angles marked in the diagrams represent the degrees to which the dipole would oscillate as driven by statistical thermal fluctuations.

Pyro electric nano Generator Operation
Pyro electric nano Generator Operation

 


The primary pyroelectric effect, Which describes the charge produced in a strain-free case, dominates the pyroelectric response in PZT, BTO, and some other ferroelectric materials.


 The mechanism is based on the thermally induced random wobbling of the electric dipole around its equilibrium axis, the magnitude of which increases with increasing temperature.

 Due to thermal fluctuations under room temperature, the electric dipoles will randomly oscillate within a degree from their respective aligning axes. Under a fixed temperature, the total average strength of the spontaneous polarization form the electric dipoles is constant, resulting in no output of the pyroelectric nano-generator.

If we apply a change in temperature in the nano-generator from room temperature to a higher temperature, the increase in temperature will result in that the electric dipoles oscillate within a larger degree of spread around their respective aligning axes.

The total average spontaneous polarization is decreased due to the spread of the oscillation angles. The quantity of induced charges in the electrodes is thus reduced, resulting in a flow of electrons.


If the nano-generator is cooled instead of heated, the electrons will then flow in an opposite direction.


The Secondary pyroelectric effect, describes the charge produced by the strain induced by thermal expansion. The secondary pyroelectric effect dominates the pyroelectric response in ZnO, CdS, and some other wurtzite-type materials.

The thermal deformation can induce a piezoelectric potential difference across the material, which can drive the electrons to flow in the external circuit. The output of the nano-generator is associated with the piezoelectric coefficient and the thermal deformation of the materials.

 

 

 


KinkajouKinkajou : So tell us about some new nano tech things we might be building.


ErasmusErasmus :
Molecular printers: current technology is embracing 3-D printing the macro scale. However nano scale offers the opportunity to custom design functional molecules in molecular structures by piece. This may become very important in biological research and in individualizing bio therapies in the future.


Stretchable gold: gold has different properties as a nano material than as a bulk material. These different properties of matter can well be taken advantage of in constructing new devices.


Pharmaceutical and drug delivery with the ability to control or influence where and what is released is an obvious and important application of nano scale materials such as liposomes and micelles. Alternatively DNA origami structures have also been fabricated and used in drug delivery.

Doxorubicin has been intercalated with a DNA origami structure achieving significant drug transport and delivery in experimental systems.


New computer hard disk drives using giant magneto resistance technology could well substantially increase the density of memory storage possible, in the next generation of computer technology.


Carbon nanotubes can function as myomers. When a carbon nanotube is placed in an ionic solution, it absorbs the ions, and will expand and or coil up. If these irons are removed, the carbon nanotubes will uncoil. This feature mimics the action of muscle fibres (myomers).


KinkajouKinkajou: Perhaps the day of the MechWarrior will soon be here.

ErasmusErasmus : One new and unusual application certainly calls to me. Nanostructures can be fabricated to provide super hydrophobicity. Water droplets collect in such surface will roll down the surface without bonding to the surface.
Kinkajou Kinkajou: I can see what you’re getting at. This is the technology of the water collection devices in the sci-fi planet “Dune”. The Fremen were able to collect water from the desert using special polymers which lost their heat extremely quickly and gathered condensate water. A technology which may have substantial application in the arid areas of our world today.


ErasmusErasmus : Indeed!

 

ErasmusErasmus : Other applications include weaving nano fibres together to form fabric. These fibres can have some unusual properties, depending on their structure. (Carbon nanotubes are resistant to stains bonding to them.

Fibres made of nano layers of charged material can repel many other chemicals). Properties may include stain resistance, water resistance, ability to carry chemicals or pharmaceutical agents, and biodegradability.


Nano polymers can be fabricated in such a way that when a material is damaged, nano monomers leach out and then combine to repair the damaged area.
Electricity generating nano devices or virus-like particles can be incorporated to generate energy for incorporated sensors, as for example in clothing.

I think the Holy Grail of nano manufacturing is the creation of programmable matter. These nano devices can receive instructions to perform particular tasks. I suppose the long-term issue is to what extent and at what cost such programmable matter can perform operations in contrast to existing biological systems.


Holy Grail Holy Grail