PHOTALA · Hybrid Photocapacitors for Ambient Light Applications
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2021-05-01 → 2023-05-11
- EU contribution
- €212,934
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF
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Results in brief
Hybrid Photocapacitors for Ambient Light Applications
The PHOTALA project, spearheaded by Newcastle University, tackled the challenge of optimizing energy use for the myriad of devices connected to the Internet of Things (IoT). The primary objective was the development of a self-sustaining device architecture, called the Photocapacitor for Ambient Light (PHOTALA), specifically designed for indoor-light harvesting. This innovative design comprised a hybrid photovoltaic linked to an electrical double-layer supercapacitor (EDLC) rooted in polyviologen family materials. Addressing this challenge was crucial because as our society increasingly relies on IoT devices, the demand for energy-efficient and self-sustaining power solutions escalates. Devices that can harvest ambient indoor light and convert it to electricity are an environmentally-friendly, long-term solution for powering the rapidly proliferating IoT devices. The project aimed to harness the promising features of hybrid solar cells (HSCs), such as dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs), and perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Notably, DSCs have shown to be one of the most effective technologies for ambient-light harvesting, outperforming silicon and thin-film technologies. Dr Flores Diaz tailored DSCs to match the spectra of indoor lighting, operating at high voltages under low light using copper-based redox mediators. Additionally, the polyviologen supercapacitor was designed to store intermittent energy, providing power during dark periods with fast charge-discharge steps, high specific power, and long-life cycles. At the project's conclusion, the PHOTALA lead DR Natalie Flores Diaz successfully achieved her objectives. The resulting Photocapacitor for Ambient Light brought us a step closer to a future where billions of IoT devices can operate in a near-perpetual, energy-autonomous state, significantly contributing to energy use optimization and supporting a more sustainable future.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
The sustainable future of humankind will be possible through energy use optimization, enabled by billions of Internet of things (IoT) devices. In this proposal, I will design an innovative device architecture for energy-autonomous IoT devices, namely Photocapacitor for Ambient Light (PHOTALA), which will be specifically adapted to indoor-light harvesting. The PHOTALA is constituted of 1) a hybrid photovoltaic joined to 2) an electrical double-layer supercapacitor (EDLC) based on the family of polyviologens. Ambient-light offers universally available energy, normally ranging from 100 to 500 lux, which is sufficient to supply the low power densities needed by IoTs. Photovoltaic devices can harvest this energy and use it to design near-perpetual smart IoTs. Hybrid solar cells (HSCs), such as dye-sensitized solar cells (DSC), and perovskite (PSC) solar cells, are a family of emerging photovoltaics with promising properties. DSCs have demonstrated to be one of the best technologies for ambient-light harvesting, outperforming silicon and thin-film technologies. DSCs can be tailored to match the spectra of indoor lightning, and operate at high voltages under low light using copper-based redox mediators. The polyviologen supercapacitor will store intermittent energy with fast charge–discharge steps, high specific power and long-life cycles, successfully providing energy during dark periods. This fellowship will enable a ground-breaking path in the design of self-powered wireless electronic devices, and will enable the researcher to bring together previous knowledge and expertise to the host institution and obtain new knowledge in the field of coordination chemistry, nanotechnology and computer science together with other transferable skills.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE · Newcastle Upon TyneCoordinatorUnited Kingdom
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union