Harvesting Materials Research Articles

Graphene-Based Materials for Energy Harvesting at Microwave Frequencies: A Comprehensive Review

Harvesting energy from microwave frequency is one of the key areas of research in the past decade to provide an alternative power source for wireless devices and sensor networks. The increase in the employment of Internet of Things (IoT) devices as well as sensors in order to support technological advancement leads to an increase in the energy demand. This in turn leads to environmental pollution due to the large amount of batteries being disposed. As such, in order to support the current demand for clean and sustainable energy that can reduce environmental pollution, various approaches to reduce the usage of conventional batteries in these systems are being researched. One of the approaches is the usage of the antenna to harvest radio frequency energy. The appearance of graphenebased material further sparked the interest of researchers due to its exciting properties. Therefore, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive review on the advancement of the usage of graphene-based material in the field of harvesting ambient radio frequency energy. Graphene material is first introduced in order to understand its characteristics and properties as a replacement for the conventional copper material. Current state-of-the-art approaches on graphene-based radio frequency energy harvesting systems were then reviewed and compared. The future prospect of graphene-based material in energy harvesting systems was also presented and discussed, shedding light on the future potential areas for research and development.

Harvesting Losses for a Cut-and-Chip Harvesting System Operating in Willow Short-Rotation Coppice

In any short-rotation coppice (SRC) operation, a certain percentage of harvestable material is unrecovered, which contributes to harvesting system losses. This material may be in the form of merchantable and non-merchantable components. These losses affect economics but also influence yield, nutrient cycling, and carbon sequestration. There are very few estimates for harvesting losses available in the literature, and they are limited by small sample sizes. The objective of this work was to provide a broad overview of harvesting losses in willow SRC over a wide range of standing biomass and harvesting conditions. The average total harvesting losses were between 3 and 4 Mg ha−1, which is between 6 and 7 percent of the standing biomass. Losses can spike to nearly 40% on less than 3% of the area. Harvesting losses are significantly, but weakly, correlated with increased standing biomass. These results highlight the complexity and variability in harvesting losses as well as which aspects of harvesting systems might be targeted to reduce or partition material losses. These results have implications for designing machinery and economic modeling of these systems.

Harnessing multi-stable piezoelectric systems for enhanced wind energy harvesting

With the ongoing evolution of microelectronic devices toward lower power consumption, the utilization of piezoelectric materials for energy harvesting from wind-induced vibrations has garnered considerable attention. This study employs a combined approach involving finite element analysis and experiments to investigate the energy harvesting efficiency of the multi-stable piezoelectric wind energy harvester (MPWEH) and compares its performance with two alternative systems. The MPWEH demonstrates higher strains in both the x and y directions during reciprocating cross-well vibrations, establishing its superior energy harvesting efficiency compared to the alternative systems. Notably, at a wind speed of 8 m s−1, the MPWEH generates an output power nearly six times higher than local bistable piezoelectric energy harvester (LBPEH). The MPWEH achieves the maximum power density of 9.8125 mW cm−3, whereas the LBPEH registers the power density of 1.625 mW cm−3. The experimental results indicate that, under the optimal load resistance of 40 kΩ and a wind speed of 14 m s−1, the MPWEH achieves a peak output power of 2.76 mW, with a power density of 17.25 mW cm−3. The versatile applicability of the MPWEH extends across various low-power consumption microelectronic devices, positioning it as a valuable candidate for empowering continuous monitoring sensors in diverse domains.

Highly efficient molybdenum nanostructures for solar thermophotovoltaic systems: One-step fabrication of absorber and design of selective emitter

Efficient solar energy harvesting materials or structures have become a topic of great interest in response to the ever-increasing energy demand. Refractory transition metals have been found to exhibit attractive properties in broadband absorptance, making them highly effective in solar thermophotovoltaic (STPV) systems that aim to surpass the Shockley-Queisser limit. Typically, broadband absorbers are made from hybrid materials or complex geometrical structures, which require multi-step fabrication technologies. In this study, we successfully developed a highly efficient broadband absorber based on molybdenum (Mo) nanosheets using a one-step physical vapor deposition process. The nanosheets result in the high absorber efficiencies of 96.1 % for blackbody radiation (BBR) at 5778 K and of 96.4 % for air mass (AM) 1.5 spectrum, and are insensitive to polarization and incident angle. After annealing at 1650 K for 24 h, the Mo nanosheets absorber demonstrates outstanding thermal stability without compromising the efficiency of the STPV system. To complete the STPV system, a selective narrowband Mo-based gratings emitter was further designed with a high emissivity of 96 % at a wavelength of 2.17 μm, resulting in a high PV cell efficiency of 41.8 % around 1723 K. Through a series of theoretical calculations, the proposed STPV system can achieve an overall conversion efficiency of 40.2 % by a trade-off between the structure temperature and the sun concentration. Furthermore, an efficiency of 35.5 % can be achieved at a low temperature of 1073 K with a low solar concentration of 500 suns.The results provide tremendous opportunities for widespread applications of high-performance STPV systems.

The exploration of physical properties of 2D MXenes M3N2 (M= Ti, Hf, Zr, Mo) through the first principles approach: The energy harvesting materials

The worldwide upsurge in energy consumption and its escalating demand day to day are depleting its natural resources. Thus forth, in order to compensate the present scenario and substitute energy harvesting appliances with efficient/cost effective ones, this article discusses 2D MXene materials. Where the structural, optoelectronic, magnetic, and mechanical behavior of pristine M3N2 (M= Ti, Hf, Zr, Mo) MXenes are investigated within the framework of CASTEP modeling and simulation code that is solely based on DFT while utilizing the GGA approach induced by the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (PBE). The crystal structures of these materials are optimized, accordingly, the energy versus volume optimization plots ensure chemically stability of the considered materials. Owing to have an overlapping aptitude of the energy states extant on the Fermi level of the band structures and density of states, these MXenes are declared to be metallic materials that exhibit overall conductive behavior. The elastic parameters explored through Voigt-Reuss-Hill’s approximation endore the mechanical stability of these materials. Finally, in depth magnetic analysis unveils that the MXenes except Mo3N2 fall into antiferromagnetic category whereas Mo3N2 imitates paramagnetic materials with net magnetic moment of 2 μB. Thorough analyses can deduce that the considered MXenes are appealing ones for several energy harvesting optoelectronic applications.

Review: wood composites as sustainable energy conversion materials for efficient solar energy harvesting and light management

Review: wood composites as sustainable energy conversion materials for efficient solar energy harvesting and light management

МОДЕЛЬ ОЦЕНКИ ПОТЕРЬ ПРИ УБОРКЕ СОИ

Soybean losses during combine harvesting, depending on conditions, can reach more than 30%. This has a significant impact on the profitability of soybean production as a whole. The article is devoted to modeling possible losses when harvesting soybeans in an agricultural enterprise. The results of monitoring the quality of soybean harvesting and information materials published in periodicals were used in the research process. Total losses were considered as the sum of self-shedding losses due to harvesting delays and losses directly behind the combines. Three options for soybean harvesting are considered: within the agricultural period, partially within the agricultural period and completely beyond the agricultural period. Modeling of losses by self-shedding is performed depending on the harvesting option and the duration of work over the agricultural period. Modeling of soybean losses for a separate combine is carried out on the basis of dependencies that take into account changes in losses from the duration of work over the agricultural period, operating speed, cutting height and lodging. A distinctive feature of the model is the prediction of the reliability of combines, depending on the operating time since the start of operation. The initial data of the model is formed by the following indicators: cleaning conditions; consumer properties of combines; technological operating modes of combines when harvesting soybeans. The model provides for each combine harvester to determine performance indicators based on operating time. Based on this, the following are determined: the total operational productivity of combines and the duration of soybean harvesting without taking into account and taking into account delays due to weather conditions. Next, the technological losses behind each combine, the total losses of soybeans behind the combines, and the losses of soybeans by shedding during the period of operation after the agricultural period are modeled. As a result, the total soybean losses in the agricultural enterprise during the harvesting period are estimated. The simulation results make it possible to select the most favorable scenario for using combines in an enterprise from the point of view of minimizing losses.

Boosting power output performance of Ba0.85Ca0.15SnxZr0.1-xTi0.9O3 piezoelectric nanogenerators via internal resistance regulation strategy

The piezoelectric charge coefficient (d) and transduction coefficient (d×g) of piezoelectric materials are the key factors that determine the power generation performance of piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs). However, it is becoming more difficult to achieve further large improvements in the values of these coefficients. In this work, we propose a new strategy to enhance the output performance of the PENGs by regulating the internal resistance. The internal resistance of Ba0.85Ca0.15Zr0.1Ti0.9O3 (BCZT) PENG was reduced by substituting BaZrO3 with low-resistivity BaSnO3 to obtain high-performance Ba0.85Ca0.15SnxZr0.1-xTi0.9O3 (BCSxZ0.1-xT) PENGs. Although the piezoelectric properties (d and d×g) of BCSxZ0.1-xT deteriorated with increasing Sn content, the power generation capability was markedly improved: the maximum current density (1.27 µA/mm2) and power density (3.09 µW/mm3) were obtained for BCS0.03Z0.07T PENG, reflecting increases of approximately 44% and 18% compared with those values of BCZT PENG, respectively. This work is expected to provide a new way to develop high-performance PENG materials and benefit a wide range of energy harvesting materials.

Fog harvesting efficiency analysis of biomimicking surfaces: A review

With a rapidly increasing population, pollution levels and industrial water and energy demand are on a constant rise in the past century. Populations residing in arid and semi-arid regions have been victims of water shortage issues since decades. Efficient water harvesting techniques are becoming highly significant today for ensuring the availability of essential resources throughout the globe. Inspired from nature where certain creatures have attractive surfaces which can collect water from the fog or mist even in no rainfall conditions, researchers have developed high-efficient novel water harvesting materials that could effectively address water scarcity issues. Through an in-depth analysis of the wettability and water droplet transportation of these creatures in nature, novel bionic surfaces that combine desirable natures and properties have been developed through innovative fabrication and coupling techniques. This could achieve 2.5 to 5.3 times more efficient water harvesting than conventional superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic surfaces. The efficiency value increased by 250% to 600% by merging different morphologies like Desert beetle, cactus and Janus, compared to their individual uniform morphology surfaces. The review also presents current challenges and scope for future development in water harvesting materials.

Predicting the efficiency of luminescent solar concentrators for solar energy harvesting using machine learning

Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) is an emerging technology in the solar energy field. It involves using luminescent solar concentrators to convert traditional windows into energy generators by utilizing light harvesting and conversion materials. This study investigates the application of machine learning (ML) to advance the fundamental understanding of optical material design. By leveraging accessible photoluminescent measurements, ML models estimate optical properties, streamlining the process of developing novel materials, offering a cost-effective and efficient alternative to traditional methods, and facilitating the selection of competitive materials. Regression and clustering methods were used to estimate the optical conversion efficiency and power conversion efficiency. The regression models achieved a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 10%, which demonstrates accuracy within a 10% range of possible values. Both regression and clustering models showed high agreement, with a minimal MAE of 7%, highlighting the efficacy of ML in predicting optical properties of luminescent materials for BIPV.

Chirality Engineering of Carbon Nanotubes, Modeling and Photons Density Improvement for Solar cell Applications

Carbon nanotubes and fullerenes offer exceptional mechanical and electrical qualities due to their cylindrical and hollow spherical molecular structures. Their extensive range of applications, which includes field emission displays, impregnated metal composites, battery storage media, and nanoelectronics devices, demonstrates their exceptional adaptability. The combination of simple materials, variable behavior, and simplicity of manufacture makes these materials a focal point of contemporary research. Due to the low bias transmission at a few nanometers, they have a wide range of applications in electronic devices, and finding their potential applications is a complicated process. Due to the fact that the valance and conduction bands are symmetric, they have a straight band gap and can be exploited for optical emission. Three processes, including arc discharge, laser ablation, and chemical vapor deposition, can be used to generate carbon nanotubes (CNTs), although chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is the most used method since it yields CNTs that are more than 98% pure. Multiple chirality of 100% pure MWCNTs results in enhanced optical properties and improved use as a light harvesting material. Using CNT composites and functionalized nanotubes, the dye-sensitized solar cells are constructed. In this brief review, the synthesis of CNT and its application in solar cells are discussed.

Comparative Analysis of PZT, AlN, and PVDF Piezoelectric Materials for Vibrational Energy Harvesting: A Parameter-Focused Study

Comparative Analysis of PZT, AlN, and PVDF Piezoelectric Materials for Vibrational Energy Harvesting: A Parameter-Focused Study

Manipulating Molecular Motion of [1,2,5]Thiadiazolo[3,4‐g]Quinoxaline‐6,7‐Dicarboxylate Small Molecules for Highly Efficient Solar‐Thermal Water Evaporation and Thermoelectric Power Generation

AbstractOrganic conjugated molecules are a category of high solar harvesting material that can convert energy into heat and be utilized as solar‐driven water‐electricity co‐generation. However, the limited absorption range and insufficient photothermal conversion efficiency hinder their application. Herein, two new organic molecules TPA‐BTQ and TPA‐SBTQ, featuring strong electron withdrawing [1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4‐g]quinoxaline‐6,7‐dicarboxylate (BTQ) center, terminated by triphenylamine or thiophene‐bridged triphenylamine are designed and synthesized. Detailed theory calculations and spectral analysis confirm that the BTQ unit induces strong intramolecular charge transfer and expands the absorption across a wide spectra range. The flexible alky chain substituted on thiophene inhibits the over‐aggregation and affords more rotation space, leading to suppressed radiative transition and efficient solar‐thermal conversion. Therefore, TPA‐SBTQ powder shows broad absorption across 350 to 1300 nm with a high photothermal conversion efficiency of 18.28% under 1 kW m−2 simulated solar irradiation. Moreover, TPA‐SBTQ is further explored for solar‐thermal conversion applications. The evaporation rate of TPA‐SBTQ solar‐driven water evaporator can reach a remarkable 1.337 kg m−2 h−1 with 92% of water evaporation efficiency under 1 kW m−2 solar irradiation. This study provides guidance for the rational design of high‐efficient organic solar‐thermal materials with a wide absorption spectrum and excellent photothermal conversion efficiency at the molecular level for emerging photothermal‐related applications.

Magnetocaloric properties of Mn5(Si,P)B2 compounds for energy harvesting applications

The magnetocaloric properties of Mn5Si1-xPxB2 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) compounds were studied for energy harvesting applications. The crystal structure and the magnetic structure were characterized by powder X-Ray Diffraction and powder Neutron Diffraction. The results indicate that these magnetocaloric materials crystallize in the tetragonal Cr5B3-type crystal structure. The introduction of P causes a stretching of the c axis and compression of the a-b plane, leading to a decrease in the unit-cell volume V. In the ferromagnetic state the magnetic moments align within the a-b plane, and the magnetic moment of the Mn1 atom on the 16 l site is larger than that of the Mn2 atom on the 4c site. The Curie temperature TC can be adjusted continuously from 305 K (x = 1) to 406 K (x = 0) by replacing Si with P. The corresponding magnetic entropy change varies from 1.90 Jkg−1K−1 (x = 0) to 1.35 Jkg−1K−1 (x = 1) for a magnetic field change of 1 T. The PM-FM transition in these compounds corresponds to a second-order phase transition. Mn5Si1-xPxB2 compounds exhibit a magnetization difference of 28.1 - 31.3 Am2kg−1 for a temperature span of 30 K around TC in an applied magnetic field of 1 T. The considerable change in magnetization, the tunable TC near and above room temperature and the absence of thermal hysteresis make these compounds promising candidates for magnetocaloric energy harvesting materials.

A comprehensive dataset of photonic features on spectral converters for energy harvesting

Building integrated photovoltaics is a promising strategy for solar technology, in which luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) stand out. Challenges include the development of materials for sunlight harvesting and conversion, which is an iterative optimization process with several steps: synthesis, processing, and structural and optical characterizations before considering the energy generation figures of merit that requires a prototype fabrication. Thus, simulation models provide a valuable, cost-effective, and time-efficient alternative to experimental implementations, enabling researchers to gain valuable insights for informed decisions. We conducted a literature review on LSCs over the past 47 years from the Web of ScienceTM Core Collection, including published research conducted by our research group, to gather the optical features and identify the material classes that contribute to the performance. The dataset can be further expanded systematically offering a valuable resource for decision-making tools for device design without extensive experimental measurements.

Introduction to emerging materials for solar energy harvesting

Guest Editors Joel M. R. Tan, Frank E. Osterloh, and Lydia Wong introduce this Journal of Materials Chemistry A themed collection on emerging materials for solar energy harvesting.

Monitoring water harvesting in metal-organic frameworks, one water molecule at a time.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have gained prominence as potential materials for atmospheric water harvesting, a vital solution for arid regions and areas experiencing severe water shortages. However, the molecular factors influencing the performance of MOFs in capturing water from the air remain elusive. Among all MOFs, Ni2X2BTDD (X = F, Cl, Br) stands out as a promising water harvester due to its ability to adsorb substantial amounts of water at low relative humidity (RH). Here, we use advanced molecular dynamics simulations carried out with the state-of-the-art MB-pol data-driven many-body potential to monitor water adsorption in the three Ni2X2BTDD variants as a function of RH. Our simulations reveal that the type of halide atom in the three Ni2X2BTDD frameworks significantly influences the corresponding molecular mechanisms of water adsorption: while water molecules form strong hydrogen bonds with the fluoride atoms in Ni2F2BTDD, they tend to form hydrogen bonds with the nitrogen atoms of the triazolate linkers in Ni2Cl2BTDD and Ni2Br2BTDD. Importantly, the large size of the bromide atoms reduces the void volume in the Ni2Br2BTDD pores, which enable water molecules to initiate an extended hydrogen-bond network at lower RH. These findings not only underscore the prospect for precisely tuning structural and chemical modifications of the frameworks to optimize their interaction with water, but also highlight the predictive power of simulations with the MB-pol data-driven many-body potential. By providing a realistic description of water under different thermodynamic conditions and environments, these simulations yield unique, molecular-level insights that can guide the design and optimization of energy-efficient water harvesting materials.

Chemistries and materials for atmospheric water harvesting.

Atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) is recognized as a crucial strategy to address the global challenge of water scarcity by tapping into the vast reserves of atmospheric moisture for potable water supply. Within this domain, sorbents lie in the core of AWH technologies as they possess broad adaptability across a wide spectrum of humidity levels, underpinned by the cyclic sorption and desorption processes of sorbents, necessitating a multi-scale viewpoint regarding the rational material and chemical selection and design. This Invited Review delves into the essential sorption mechanisms observed across various classes of sorbent systems, emphasizing the water-sorbent interactions and the progression of water networks. A special focus is placed on the insights derived from isotherm profiles, which elucidate sorbent structures and sorption dynamics. From these foundational principles, we derive material and chemical design guidelines and identify key tuning factors from a structural-functional perspective across multiple material systems, addressing their fundamental chemistries and unique attributes. The review further navigates through system-level design considerations to optimize water production efficiency. This review aims to equip researchers in the field of AWH with a thorough understanding of the water-sorbent interactions, material design principles, and system-level considerations essential for advancing this technology.

Sustainable healthcare AI-enhanced materials discovery and design for eco-friendly and biocompatible medical applications

The present investigation explored the artificial intelligence (AI) applications in energy harvesting and sustainable healthcare materials. The process combines the creation of illustrative data with a rigorous assessment of the literature to understand the potential of AI in various disciplines. The ensuing data visualization highlights the prominence of artificial intelligence (AI) in material innovation and clarifies the ubiquity of biocompatible, sustainable, and advanced materials in the healthcare industry. The study analyses trade-offs between bias and variance in AI models for energy harvesting, illustrating the dynamic link between mistakes and model complexity. The research proceeds on to provide Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions for PENG and TENG nanogenerators, outlining their uses in the phases of analysis, design, manufacture, and application. The findings highlight the growing importance of AI-enhanced materials in the healthcare industry and stress a steady transition to sustainability and biocompatibility. The results highlight that AI has the ability to completely change materials research and improve energy harvesting devices. The study highlighted the crucial role AI plays in developing sustainable healthcare materials and creative energy collecting techniques.

Harvesting of Atmospheric Water Using Polymer‐Based Hybrid Hydrogels

AbstractAtmospheric water harvesting (AWH) is an important parallel or supplemental freshwater production technique to liquid water resource‐based technologies due to the availability of moisture resources regardless of location and the possibility of realizing decentralized applications. Recent developments to regulate the characteristic features and nanostructures of moisture‐harvesting materials demonstrate new opportunities to improve device efficiency. Focusing on the design of water harvesting materials and the optimization of the overall system, this review sums up the most recent developments in this area and presents prospects for the future development of AWH. An overview of the processes involved in water sorption by various sorbents and the characteristics and functionality of the polyaniline‐based hydrogels developed for AWH is given. Newly reported hydrogel sorbents used for AWH are evaluated, focusing on their benefits, drawbacks, and design methodologies. Several AWH‐specific water harvesters are described and the impact of the system's mass and heat transfer on its operational effectiveness is explored. Finally, potential roadmaps for the development of this technology are detailed and the challenges in this subject from both a basic research and practical application perspective are discussed.