Harvesting Applications Research Articles

Ultrathin Sulfonated Mesoporous Silica Film with Well-Ordered Perpendicular Mesochannels: In-Situ Preparation, Characterization and Permselectivity

In this paper, a new type of ultrathin sulfonated mesoporous silica film (SMSF) with well-ordered perpendicular mesochannels was in-situ synthesized by Stöber approach and co-condensation method. The mesostructure of the synthesized SMSF was characterized. The results of small-angle XRD, high-resolution TEM, and cyclic voltammetry (CV) exhibited that, after loading of MPTMS, SMSF had an ordered mesostructure with a perpendicular orientation and open ends. SEM showed that SMSF could be entirely transferred and easily handled. FT-IR presented that sulfonic groups were successfully added to the surface of the nanochannels of silica film. Compared with mesoporous silica film (MSF) and commercial cation exchange membrane (CEM), SMSF had the highest permselectivity. The permselectivity of SMSF was not lined with the loading of the sulfonic groups (–SO3H). The highest permselectivity of SMSF to Na[Formula: see text] was 94% when the loading of MPTMS was 5.98% (wt.%). SMSF is a promising material in the application of salinity gradient energy harvest.

Piezoelectric Properties of (1 – X)BiScO3 – XPbTiO3 System for Actuator Applications

ABSTRACTIn this research, the crystalline and piezoelectric properties of (1 – X )BiScO3–XPbTiO3 (X = 0.60, 0.62, 0.64, 0.66 and 0.68) ceramics were investigated to determine the optimized composition for energy harvester and sensor applications. BS-PT ceramics have strong merits in terms of their high Curie temperature and piezoelectric charge coefficient. Devices of the (1 – X )BS-XPT ceramics were fabricated by a conventional mixed-oxide sintering process with nano-powders. By employing the X-ray diffraction patterns, the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) region of the monoclinic and tetragonal phases was identified at X = 0.64. Near the MPB region, the piezoelectric and dielectric properties of BS-PT ceramics were improved compared with those of other composition. By optimizing the compositions of the BS-PT ceramics, the maximum values of the dielectric constant (εr), piezoelectric charge coefficient (d33), electromechanical coupling factor (kp) and remanent polarization (Pr) were obtained, with values of 1387, 417 pC/N, 51.4% and 44.8 µC/cm2, respectively. Moreover, a high Curie temperature of 399.2 °C and inverse piezoelectric charge coefficient of 574 pm/V were observed for the 0.36BS–0.64PT composition, which can be a huge merit for actuator applications. These high piezoelectric charge coefficients and inverse piezoelectric charge coefficients can be the strong merits for energy harvester and actuator applications.

Thresholding Analysis and Feature Extraction from 3D Ground Penetrating Radar Data for Noninvasive Assessment of Peanut Yield

This study explores the efficacy of utilizing a novel ground penetrating radar (GPR) acquisition platform and data analysis methods to quantify peanut yield for breeding selection, agronomic research, and producer management and harvest applications. Sixty plots comprising different peanut market types were scanned with a multichannel, air-launched GPR antenna. Image thresholding analysis was performed on 3D GPR data from four of the channels to extract features that were correlated to peanut yield with the objective of developing a noninvasive high-throughput peanut phenotyping and yield-monitoring methodology. Plot-level GPR data were summarized using mean, standard deviation, sum, and the number of nonzero values (counts) below or above different percentile threshold values. Best results were obtained for data below the percentile threshold for mean, standard deviation and sum. Data both below and above the percentile threshold generated good correlations for count. Correlating individual GPR features to yield generated correlations of up to 39% explained variability, while combining GPR features in multiple linear regression models generated up to 51% explained variability. The correlations increased when regression models were developed separately for each peanut type. This research demonstrates that a systematic search of thresholding range, analysis window size, and data summary statistics is necessary for successful application of this type of analysis. The results also establish that thresholding analysis of GPR data is an appropriate methodology for noninvasive assessment of peanut yield, which could be further developed for high-throughput phenotyping and yield-monitoring, adding a new sensor and new capabilities to the growing set of digital agriculture technologies.

An environmental risk assessment for a DDX-contaminated agricultural area in Turkey: soil vs. plant or human vs. animal.

This study is the first research attempt to assess the environmental risks of an agricultural area contaminated with the p,p'-DDT and its metabolites (DDX) on human and terrestrial species through exposure to soil and agricultural products, simultaneously. The study was carried out for a DDX-contaminated agricultural area in Turkey. Soil samples obtained in two different harvest applications were analyzed in terms of DDX levels. Similarly, stem, leaf, and fruit samples of an agricultural product grown on the same soils were analyzed. Using the results of these analyses, DDX intake values were calculated for 5 different human receptor groups, 4 different bird species, and 4 different mammal species, and the risk values were calculated by using a stochastic approach based on a Monte Carlo simulation. Findings indicated a substantial level of carcinogenic risk in the human receptor groups. Furthermore, a significant risk of reproductive toxicity was determined for the birds and mammals. The findings prominently showed that these risks can develop not only through exposure to DDX-contaminated soils but also through the consumption of plants grown on these soils.

Performance of dopamine modified 0.5(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3-0.5Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3 filler in PVDF nanocomposite as flexible energy storage and harvester

We demonstrate the potential of dopamine modified 0.5(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3-0.5Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3 filler incorporated poly-vinylidene fluoride (PVDF) composite prepared by solution cast method as flexible energy storage and harvesting devices. Filler surface functionalization with dopamine acts as a bridging factor between the filler and the polymer matrix, resulting in better filler dispersion. The improved dielectric loss tangent (<0.02) and dielectric permittivity ranges from 9 to 34 are found beneficial for both energy harvesting and storage. Additionally, a significantly low DC conductivity (<10−9 ohm−1cm−1) for all composites was achieved leading to an improved breakdown strength and charge accumulation capability. Maximum breakdown strength of 134 kV/mm and corresponding energy storage density 0.72 J/cm3 were obtained from the filler content 10 wt%. The improved energy harvesting performance was characterized by obtaining a output voltage (Vout) = 1.84 V along with maximum power density of 11.4 µW/cm3 for the filler content of 10 wt% of the poled sample. Thus, the results show 0.5(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3-0.5Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3/PVDF composite has the potential for energy storage and harvesting applications that can significantly suppress the excess energy loss arises while utilizing different material.

An Optically Transparent Near-Field Focusing Metasurface

We propose a novel optically transparent reflection-type metasurface based on indium tin oxide (ITO) material for simultaneously achieving high transmission of visible light and near-field focusing (NNF) of microwave, demonstrating its potential for wireless power transfer (WPT) and harvesting applications. By achieving high impedance of the metasurface, this work overcomes the main challenge in designing metasurface with lossy metal materials, i.e., optimizing the tradeoff between phase shift characteristics and efficiency loss. We propose a new element with two degrees of freedom to ensure that the phase shift range can reach 350° while keeping |S <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">11</sub> | less than -2.5 dB. In addition, we adopt the grid ground (GND) instead of the complete GND plane to further improve the light transmittance. Based on the above considerations, we design two types of metasurfaces for deployments in ambient wireless energy harvesting (plane-wave feeding) and WPT (horn feeding), respectively. Its NNF transfer efficiency can reach more than 60% of the metasurface based on good conductor materials. The relative bandwidth with 50% transfer efficiency can reach 34.5% (4.9-6.9 GHz). We fabricate an ITO-based prototype of the metasurface with the dimension of 342 ×342 ×4.4 mm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sup> ( 6.6 ×6.6 ×0.08λ <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">0</sub> <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sup> ) with the sheet impedance of 1 Ω/sq and a light transmittance of 60%. We also perform near-field scanning measurements to verify that the focusing position is accurate. Finally, through WPT and harvesting tests, we achieve a WPT and receiving efficiency (from power source to receiving antenna) of 12.6% and a rectification efficiency of 55%, confirming the practicability and effectiveness of the proposed work.

Mechanisms and applications of vibration energy harvesting in solid rocket motors

Energy harvesting has become a fascinating topic of research. As the world moves towards reducing its dependency on fossil fuels, new and innovative techniques of energy harvesting have been tested and developed. The use of piezoelectric materials to harvest the ambient vibrations from the surroundings is one method that has seen a dramatic rise in use for power harvesting. Remote sensors can be powered by these piezoelectric materials and could potentially act as a continuous source of energy. In space vehicles, energy is generated using solar panels which are bulky, heavy and expensive. Instead piezoelectric harvesters can be used to generate power and are much lighter, compact and relatively cheap when produced in bulk. This paper presents a theoretical study on energy harvesting from structural vibration caused by combustion instability of a solid rocket motor through the motor burnout. Vibration data of tested solid rocket motor was taken as a reference and was inputted as the boundary condition. The 3-D model of the harvester system was designed on Fusion360 and the simulation was performed on COMSOL. Finally, improvements needed in the system to enhance practicality were discussed.

WITHDRAWN: Joining of NiTi/Ti6Al4V alloys using copper intermediate thin layer using fiber laser technology

Abstract Joining of NiTi and Ti6Al4V has substantial potential for applications in multicomponent energy harvesting, aviation, electronics, and biomedical industries. However, previous studies indicate that an effective joining technique has not been developed which avoid the formation of the brittle intermetallic NiTi/Ti6Al4V. This paper focuses on experimentally investigating the dissimilar joining process of NiTi/Ti6Al4V using a fiber-laser. Thin Cu was applied at the joint as a welding interlayer to minimize the in-situ brittle phase formation during laser processing. Characterization has been done using radiographic analysis, scanning electron microscope, surface roughness test, X-ray diffraction, micro-hardness, and tensile test. The development of complex intermediate phases (such as Cu4Ti3 and CuNi2Ti) observed at the joining interface ceases the development of unwanted brittle phases (such as NiTi2, Ni3Ti4). The joining strength of 353 MPa was obtained by using laser power of 800 W and a scan speed of 17 mm/s. Weldment microstructure shows the presence of a negligible percentage of pores (

COMPACT UWB SLOTTED MONOPOLE ANTENNA WITH DIPLEXER FOR SIMULTANEOUS MICROWAVE ENERGY HARVESTING AND DATA COMMUNICATION APPLICATIONS

COMPACT UWB SLOTTED MONOPOLE ANTENNA WITH DIPLEXER FOR SIMULTANEOUS MICROWAVE ENERGY HARVESTING AND DATA COMMUNICATION APPLICATIONS

WITHDRAWN: A review on mems based vibration energy harvester cantilever geometry (2015–2020)

Abstract The paper focusses selected significant works carried out in the area of vibration energy harvesting. Micro electromechanical systems, generally referred as MEMS, are established using integrated technology on micro scale. They are a mixture of electrical, electronics and mechanical elements. MEMS finds application in extensive areas but its applications in vibration energy harvesting are most popular. The paper emphasises on the various cantilever geometries for vibration energy harvesting reported in literature for the past five years. In particular the progress made by the researchers with respect to cantilever geometry are reviewed.

Preparation of isocyanate-free composite coating with controlled molecular architecture: A new convergent approach to functional macromolecules

Isocyanate-free composite coating can improve radiative cooling, energy storage and harvesting applications. This study reports the development and use of a isocyanate-free green surface coating(GSC) matrix derived from (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxy radical (TEMPO)-oxidized cellulose-(3-Aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMS)-ZnO nanoparticles-green polymer matrix that possesses upto ∼220 °C thermal stability. The GSC exhibited excellent UV block and IR active capacity while achieving good coating hardness. The NMR, TGA-DTG and Pencil hardness studies revealed that this attribute by GSC was due to the formation of uniform crosslinking and reinforcement network. Using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, the GSC had a low resistance. A high charge transfer resistance of ∼15.826 kΩ was measured using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for the GSC, high enough to attenuate photon radiation, making GSC material stable for application. Also, UV-weathering study was performed to investigate coating stability of the GSC. This is the first time application of TEMPO-cellulose based reinforcement of the green polymer matrix for the development of GSC through convergent approach to functional macromolecules. The study opens an opportunity of utilizing green material in energy applications, especially in windows shielding by a sufficient attenuation of photon radiations.

Controlling Light, Heat, and Vibrations in Plasmonics and Phononics

AbstractPlasmonic nanostructures have attracted considerable attention for their ability to couple with light and provide strong electromagnetic energy confinement at subwavelength dimensions. The absorbed portion of the captured electromagnetic energy can lead to significant heating of both the nanostructure and its surroundings, resulting in a rich set of nanoscale thermal processes that defines the subfield of thermoplasmonics with applications ranging from nanochemistry and nanobiology to optoelectronics. Recently, phononic nanostructures have started to attract attention as a platform for manipulation of phonons, enabling control over heat propagation and/or mechanical vibrations. The complex interaction phenomena between photons, electrons, and phonons require appropriate modelling strategies to design nanodevices that simultaneously explore and exploit the optical, thermal, and mechanical degrees of freedom. Examples of such devices are micro‐ and nanoscale opto‐thermo‐mechanical systems for sensing, imaging, energy conversion, and harvesting applications. Here, an overview of the fundamental theory and concepts crucial to the modelling of plasmo‐phonon devices is provided. Particular attention is given to micro‐ and nanoscale modelling frameworks, highlighting their validity ranges and the experimental works that contributed to their validation and led to compelling applications. Finally, an open‐ended outlook focused on emerging applications at the intersection between plasmonics and phononics is presented.

Water drops impact on a PVDF cantilever: droplet dynamics and voltage output

The effect of droplet dynamics on electric output of a PVDF (Polyvinylidene fluoride) cantilever is investigated through conducting in-laboratory experiments towards the raindrop energy harvesting (REH) applications. The droplet-substrate interaction affects the voltage output by several key factors, such as the droplet diameter, the impact velocity and the regime transition of droplet dynamics. The splash of droplet is shown to be dominant in voltage generation in an open circuit condition which is determined by the Weber number (We). The high-speed camera capturing technique allows the acquisition of both the droplet dynamic behaviors and the displacement of PVDF cantilever by means of which the effect on electric output can be comprehensively investigated. Results show that for single droplet impact, cantilever with a hydrophilic surface produces slightly higher voltage than that with a Super-hydrophobic (SH) surface; whereas for multiple droplet impacts, the SH surface performs better producing constant voltage amplitude and oscillating time. In this case, the accumulated water layer on hydrophilic surface attenuates the peak voltage successively especially when splash occurs. This work reveals the unneglectable effect of droplet dynamics on voltage output from an REH device. It may lay the foundation for improving energy conversion efficiency in terms of impact efficiency concerning the energy transfer from kinetic energy of droplet to vibration energy of a PVDF cantilever.

Microwave power imaging detector based on metamaterial absorber

Our paper presents the design, fabrication, and characterization of metamaterial absorber-based microwave imaging detector that is operating in industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band. The results reveal that the structure has almost perfect absorption at 2.39 GHz in the simulation and 2.51 GHz in the experimental measurement. For energy-harvesting applications, Schottky diodes have been used and 11.8-mV dc voltage across a Schottky diode has been observed with 84.2% dc conversion efficiency in harvesting application. To show the different incident angle imaging, MATS-1000 antenna training kit is used, and different imaging pictures are given, which are obtained by MATLAB with the help of a microcontroller card. Both experimental and simulation study results verify that the microwave detector generates accurate images with negligible distortions. The innovative side of this study when it is compared with similar studies can be sorted as having more dc obtained voltage, incident angle characterization, and operation frequency. Simulated and measurement results show that the proposed structure can effectively be used in the imaging at ISM frequency band, which is the most common frequency band in wireless appliances.

Small Scale Integrated Sustainable Roof Design (Case Study in Surakarta City)

The city of Surakarta is one of the densest cities in Indonesia. From the Surakarta Central Bureau of Statistics, the population density of Surakarta City reaches 12,000 people per one square kilometre. This certainly affects the magnitude of the increasing demand for clean water resources and the reduction of rainwater catchment areas which can lead to disasters such as floods and landslides. Therefore, a simple, sustainable roof design innovation which is easy to be built, is required, particularly in the residential area. This simple, sustainable roof is designed for a house with type 70/120 and inhabited by four people. The sustainable roof components are an extensive green roof with 5.1 meters long, 2.3 meters wide and 0.8-meter height using sedum grass, an application of rainwater harvesting with a capacity of 22000 litres to supply water demand for the inhabitants, as well as electricity for a pump that uses powered solar panel 100 WP.

Numerical investigation of water droplet impact on horizontal beams

Droplet impact on elastic beams is considered as a novel model of energy transfer which is a promising alternative in applications of energy harvesting. The transient impact process is dominated by the fluid–solid interaction and the capillary effect. The numerical model based on SPH method allows predicting the droplet dynamic behaviors due to super-hydrophobic (SH) surfaces. The predicted results are also compared with relevant experiments to verify the robustness and flexibility of the model. For fixed-fixed beams, typical regimes, namely spherical-shaped rebound, pancake-shaped rebound and splashing of droplet, are identified. The elasticity of beam causing the earlier lifting-off phenomenon of droplet is investigated in detail. By comparison, cantilever beams repel the droplet in a smoother way and large deformation of the beam is considered. The slipping-off phenomenon is expected to occur under specific conditions on soft cantilevers. The effect of elasticity plays a key role in the maximum deflection and oscillating frequency for both types of beams. This work examines the effectiveness of the framework based on the numerical model which provides further understandings for droplet impacts. It may lay the foundation for practical applications, such as engineering piezoelectric raindrop energy harvesters and plant leaves repelling raindrops.

The clinical application of microincision vein harvesting of the great saphenous vein in coronary artery bypass grafting

BackgroundThe present study aimed to summarize the clinical application of microincision vein harvesting (MVH) of the great saphenous vein in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).MethodsFrom July 2014 to October 2017, 160 patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. Among them, 80 patients received MVH of the great saphenous vein, and 80 received open venous harvesting (OVH). The results of the sampling operation, complications during hospitalization, and the long-term patency of the great saphenous vein were compared between the two groups.ResultsAll the patients in both groups received successful operations. The difference in the length of the veins obtained and the injury of the veins was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The difference in the long-term patency rate of the graft vessels between the two groups was not statistically significant. The in-hospital mortality rate was the same in both groups. The MVH group had noticeable advantages over the OVH group in terms of the vein collection times, the incision length, and the complications experienced when performing the leg incisions (P < 0.01). The time relating to the patients’ observed early out-of-bed activity was significantly longer in the MVH group. Furthermore, the patients’ hospitalization length was significantly shorter in the MVH group compared to the OVH group (P < 0.05). The MVH group had significant advantages in pain score and patient satisfaction, and this difference was also statistically significant (P < 0.05).ConclusionsThe MVH procedure met the requirements of CABG in vein grafting. When compared with OVH, MVH can significantly reduce leg incision complications and improve patients’ overall satisfaction with their hospital experience.

Influence of preharvest calcium spray and postharvest chitosan coating methods on quality of Chinese dwarf cherry (Cerasus humilis (Bge.) Sok) fruits during cold storage

ABSTRACT The influences of preharvest calcium spray (PCS) and postharvest chitosan coating (PCC) treatments on the levels of sugar, organic acid, and phenolics were evaluated for Chinese dwarf cherry fruit during cold storage. An orthogonal method was applied using the decay rate as index. The optimised treatment was spraying 2.0% Ca(NO3)2 solution before 21 d of harvest and postharvest application of 0.1% chitosan coating. Compared to the control group, the PCS+PCC treatment group showed a significantly reduced fruit decay rate at the end of storage. Total sugars (91.3–143.1 mg/g), organic acids (11.3–29.4 mg/g), and phenolic (912.4–2337.5 mg/g) contents in optimised group are averagely higher than those in control group. Glucose (24.7–64.8 mg/g) was the predominant sugar, followed by sucrose and fructose. Malic acid (5.2–22 mg/g) was the predominant acid, followed by succinic, citric, tartaric, and oxalic acid. The total phenolic content was relatively stable from 0 to 30 d, and then decreased. The levels of procyanidin and flavonol exhibited similar trends. The antioxidant activities were positively associated with phenolic contents. These findings suggest that treatment with PCS+PCC could be used commercially for extending the storage time and improve Chinese dwarf cherry quality for up to 30 days.

Weed Seed Bank Diversity in Dryland Cereal Fields: Does it Differ Along the Field and Between Fields with Different Landscape Structure?

In this work, we aimed to test whether taxonomic diversity and functional diversity and the values of functional traits of the weed seed bank varied across the field, from margins to the core, and between fields embedded in distinct landscape structures. We sampled the seed bank of 47 conventionally managed cereal fields from two Mediterranean regions in Spain. In each field, three positions were selected: Margin, edge and core, and soil properties were measured for each position. Landscape structure was quantified for each field as the percentage of arable land in the surrounding 1 km radius circular sector. Seed bank diversity was characterized at the taxonomic (species richness, exponential Shannon index, and evenness) and functional levels (Rao’s quadratic entropy index and four corner analysis). For functional diversity, eight functional traits related to the whole plant life cycle were considered. Results showed a slight response of increasing taxonomic diversity from the core of the fields to the margins. Functional diversity was extremely low, indicating high similarity among species in terms of functional traits. Species in the seed bank were mostly therophytes, shorter than the crop plants, small seeded, flowering between the herbicide application of late winter and crop harvest, and showed seed dispersal by gravity or wind. This trait syndrome allows persistence in intensively managed arable lands. The similarity between fields in terms of functional diversity of the seed bank and in species traits may suggest that the intensity of management practices was similar across the fields. Moreover, it emphasizes that an increase in landscape heterogeneity, if based on other intensively managed cropping systems, may not be sufficient to augment functional diversity of weed communities. Therefore, in these areas, the seed bank could restore weed taxonomic diversity following changes in management practices, but functional diversity would still remain limited.

A Flexible Piezoelectric Nanogenerator Based on Free-Standing Polydimethylsiloxane / ZnO Nanowire Hybrid Film

We report a facil and robust strategy for fabricating flexible piezoelectric nanogenerator based on free-standing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) / ZnO nanowire (NW) hybrid film. Free-standing hybrid film was fabricated by mechanical exfoliation of ZnO NWs grown on a FR4 substrate. The free-standing ZnO/PDMS hybrid film is robust enough to be transferred into a flexible substrate of polyimide (Kapton) with Au sputtered. The nanogenerator based on the free-standing hybrid film exhibits stable output voltage about 0.7 V and current of 7 nA under pressing conditions. This facil and robust method should hold significant promise applications in efficient energy harvesting.