In the field of renewable energy, there is life beyond solar and wind energy. For example, we’ve talked about alternatives such as wave energy, and even covered the use of sweat as a power source for wearables.They are technology project It shows that energy is everywhere and that harnessing it requires a little ingenuity and a good amount of engineering. Another proof of this is an innovative device created by researchers at the University of Singapore. If there’s anything more abundant than light, it’s shadow, and that resource is what they harnessed to generate a tiny electrical current. They named it SEG (Shadow Effect Energy Generator). . In the not-too-distant future, it could power many home devices.
Researchers point out that today’s solar cells require a continuous light supply, and any interruption in this will affect their energy performance. To alleviate this problem, the team explored the possibility of using the lighting contrast produced by shadows as an indirect energy source. They argue that this is an unprecedented approach and has great potential for creating devices that work both indoors and outdoors, where light availability is more discontinuous than usual. The technology developed by is affordable yet self-powering.
How do shadow effects work?
The first device they created consists of a series of SEG cells placed on a transparent plastic membrane. Each of these cells consists of his two layers of a silicon substrate and a gold thin film. If the entire surface of the device is exposed to light, the current produced by the device is very weak. The same is true if it is completely shaded. However, when the cell is only partially illuminated, a significant current is generated as the cell becomes both a generator and a collector of energy. Initial lab tests showed that he could generate a current of 1.2 V under normal lighting conditions in the home. That means it’s strong enough to run a digital clock.
In addition to use in wearables and smartwatches, the researchers believe it could be used in self-powered sensors. . Another area of interest is embedding these PV cells into smart clothing. Finally, you can create solar panels for your home.
SEG developers believe that manufacturing costs will be lower than traditional silicon cells. To this end, they are considering replacing gold with other, more affordable materials.
sauce: TechExplore
