EnergyLiteraryReviewCriteria
Self-Powered Nanotech-By Zhong Lin Wang Chantele Albert
[Mechanical Energy to Electricity]
Nanotechnology has huge potential-but those minuscule devices will need a power source that is better than a battery. And that is by the idea of converting mechanical energy into electricity by measuring the electromechanical coupled properties of wires. Waste energy, in the form of vibrations or even the human pulse, could provide sufficient power to run such tiny gadgets. Arrays of piezoelectric nanowires could capture and transmit that waste energy to nanodevices. Medical devices will likely be a major application. A pacemaker’s battery could be charged so it would not be replacing or implanted wireless nanosensors could monitor blood glucose for diabetics. A nanogenerator consists of an array of vertical zinc oxide nanowires, hexagonal crystals with both piezoelectric and semiconducting properties. A rectangular electrode with a ridged underside sits atop the nanowires and moves side to side in response to external forces such as vibration, the human pulse or acoustic waves. The generator’s output is stored in a capacitor and periodically sent to a sensor, which could be measuring blood glucose or pressure. A tiny radio-frequency transmitter reports the results.
This technology idea relates to that of the Oil and Gas course because natural gas is made up of energy for fuels and such. While for the nanotechnology, it is used to force external vibration, the human pulse or acoustic waves.
No, i have not heard of this idea before, it is all new to me.
Reference:
Magazine: Scientific American- A Grand Plan for Solar Energy
January 2008 pg #82-87, 85(mechanical energy to electricity picture)
[Mechanical Energy to Electricity]
Nanotechnology has huge potential-but those minuscule devices will need a power source that is better than a battery. And that is by the idea of converting mechanical energy into electricity by measuring the electromechanical coupled properties of wires. Waste energy, in the form of vibrations or even the human pulse, could provide sufficient power to run such tiny gadgets. Arrays of piezoelectric nanowires could capture and transmit that waste energy to nanodevices. Medical devices will likely be a major application. A pacemaker’s battery could be charged so it would not be replacing or implanted wireless nanosensors could monitor blood glucose for diabetics. A nanogenerator consists of an array of vertical zinc oxide nanowires, hexagonal crystals with both piezoelectric and semiconducting properties. A rectangular electrode with a ridged underside sits atop the nanowires and moves side to side in response to external forces such as vibration, the human pulse or acoustic waves. The generator’s output is stored in a capacitor and periodically sent to a sensor, which could be measuring blood glucose or pressure. A tiny radio-frequency transmitter reports the results.
This technology idea relates to that of the Oil and Gas course because natural gas is made up of energy for fuels and such. While for the nanotechnology, it is used to force external vibration, the human pulse or acoustic waves.
No, i have not heard of this idea before, it is all new to me.
Reference:
Magazine: Scientific American- A Grand Plan for Solar Energy
January 2008 pg #82-87, 85(mechanical energy to electricity picture)